I move:
"Go bhfuil sé oiriúnach Bínse do bhunú chun fiosrú do dhéanamh i dtaobh ní áirithe go bhfuil deabha agus tácht phuiblí ag baint leis, sé sin le rá, gach a mbaineann le lámhach Thaidhg Uí Chochláin ag Woodpark Lodge, Bóthar Dartraí, ar an 28adh Eanair, 1928."
"That it is expedient that a Tribunal be established for inquiring into a definite matter of urgent public importance, that is to say, the facts and circumstances surrounding the shooting of Timothy Coughlan, at Woodpark Lodge, Dartry Road, on the 28th January, 1928."
It is probably in the recollection of members of the House that on the date in question this young man, Timothy Coughlan, met his death. From the evidence of the principal witness examined at the inquest, an Intelligence Officer named Seán Harling, it appears that Coughlan and another man followed up and endeavoured to shoot Harling. A coroner's jury inquired into the matter, and they brought in the following verdict:
We find that the said Timothy Coughlan died on the 28th inst. from shock, haemorrhage and laceration of the brain caused by a bullet. We are of opinion that the circumstances of the case should be a matter of further investigation.
In addition to the verdict of the jury, I think it is also a matter of public knowledge that rumours have been circulated around this city and that certain newspaper articles have been written bringing very grave and very serious charges against certain persons. In these circumstances, since these grave charges have been brought against the Guards, and since the jury have brought in this rider to their verdict, I ask the House to consider this a matter of public importance, a matter which should be inquired into, and accordingly I move the motion. I should say that if this motion is carried here and in the Seanad a tribunal will be set up consisting of three impartial gentlemen to investigate all the facts and circumstances connected with this occurrence. I think it is right the Dáil should know the nature of the Tribunal we propose to set up. These three gentlemen will be District Justices, the Chairman being the senior District Justice of the City of Dublin. He will be assisted by two other District Justices. That, I submit, will be a perfectly fair and a perfectly impartial tribunal, which will be able to investigate fairly every circumstance connected with this event. It will be constituted of three trained men, men used to dealing with matters of this nature, men trained to weigh up evidence and to decide upon it.