asked the Minister for Justice if the shooting of Aidan MacAnespie was discussed at the last meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference; and if he communicated to the British side the results of the inquiry conducted by the Garda.
29.
Written Answers. - MacAnespie Shooting.
22.
asked the Minister for Justice if the Deputy Garda Commissioner's report on the MacAnespie shooting at Aughnacloy has been made available to the Northern authorities through the Anglo-Irish Conference; and if he will report on its findings.
30.
asked the Minister for Justice if the Government have yet concluded their consideration of the report prepared by Deputy Garda Commissioner, Eugene Crowley, into the shooting of Aidan MacAnespie at Aughnacloy, which he indicated in the Dáil on 19 April last, was pending; if, following its consideration by the Government, it is now intended to publish the report or pass the findings on to the authorities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
42.
asked the Minister for Justice if the Government have examined the report prepared by Deputy Commissioner Crowley following the Garda inquiry into the death of Aidan MacAnespie; if it is intended to publish the findings of this inquiry; if the report has been made available to the RUC; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 29, 30, and Priority Question No. 42 together.
The Government have considered the report on Deputy Commissioner Crowley's inquiry.
The inquiry was conducted on the basis that the wishes of witnesses to have their statements and identity treated as confidential would be respected. For that reason the report of the inquiry will not be made available to anybody other than the Government.
In due course the Government may decide to publish the main findings of the Garda report without disclosing the identity of any person who gave evidence or the contents of any statement received. The Government have been advised that the proper course is to avoid the publication or disclosure at this stage of any material which might conceivably affect or prejudice in any way the criminal proceedings which are pending in the North in connection with Mr. MacAnespie's death.
I would also ask Deputies to keep in mind that nothing should be said here which might prejudice those proceedings.