Full Public Enquiry into death of Shane O’Farrell is required
“Scoping exercise simply delaying the inevitable” – Matt Carthy MEP
Sinn Féin MEP, Matt Carthy, has described the announcement by government of a scoping inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell as “simply delaying the inevitable”. He reiterated his view that a full public inquiry is required into the death of Shane O’Farrell, the actions of all relevant state bodies in response to this tragedy and their respective roles in advance of and following his killing.
Shane O’Farrell, a young 23 year old Carrickmacross man, was killed in a hit and run on 2nd August 2011, by Zigimantas Gridziuska a known criminal who had breached his bail conditions at the time and had 42 previous convictions in three different jurisdictions.
Speaking this evening Matt Carthy, who is from Carrickmacross said:
“Shane O’Farrell’s family have been calling for an independent inquiry for several years. The Dáil, by majority resolution, called for such an inquiry in a vote last June.
“While any movement towards this end is welcome, it is extremely disappointing that the Justice Minister will not accede to this request. The announcement by government of a scoping by Judge Gerard Haughton is, I believe, simply delaying the inevitable.
“Anyone who has acquired a knowledge of this case will readily accept that the litany of failures on the part of the state in this case can only be adequately addressed through a full independent inquiry.
“The O’Farrell family have raised several serious concerns regarding the handling of this case by an Garda Siochána, by the prosecuting solicitor and barrister, by the DPP and by the courts services.
“These questions are so numerous and raise matters of such significance and concern that, in my view, there must now be a public inquiry that examines each of these concerns and addresses the matters raised so that measures can be put in place so that no other family is failed to the extent that the O’Farrell’s have been.
“Whatever Judge Haughton’s scoping exercise findings, the fact is that only a full independent inquiry can have any hope of delivering the answers to the questions to which the O’Farrell family deserve. There should be no further delays.”
ENDS
