asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to reports (details supplied) regarding injuries sustained by a person (name supplied); and if he will state (a) whether the person is in custody (b) the Garda station to which he was taken (c) the nature of his injuries and how he received them (d) the hospitals in which he was treated and the treatment he received (e) why his father was interviewed the following day and not notified the evening before and (f) why information was not available quickly to the man's immediate relatives.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Injuries Case Investigation.
11.
For reasons outside the control of the Garda Síochána, the circumstances in which this man's injuries were received has not yet been fully investigated. The investigation will, of course, be thorough and will be completed as soon as possible. The name of the hospital in which he is recovering is known to the man's relatives and it would be for them to identify it to the Deputy if they so wish.
As regards communication with his father, my information is that the man was not living with his father but elsewhere in his own home and that the Garda Síochána made repeated efforts to contact relatives before they were able to do so. However, the question whether there was excessive delay is also being investigated fully.
As the man was arrested, it will be clear that the question of taking criminal proceedings must arise when he has further recovered. In these circumstances, even if Garda investigations were completed, it would be improper for me to make any further comment.
I take it from the Minister's reply that the matter will be thoroughly and impartially investigated in case some of the allegations made are substantiated?
The Deputy has my assurance that there will be a full and thorough investigation.