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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Jun 1988

Vol. 382 No. 11

Written Answers. - Tallaght Two Case.

55.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the alleged new evidence arising in the Tallaght Two case; whether, in the light of this, he will institute a public inquiry into this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the case of two young men from the Tallaght area who were convicted of a number of offences, including one of serious assault, for which they were each sentenced, in November 1985, to five years imprisonment.

I have already given this case very careful consideration in the context of a petition which was submitted to me on behalf of the two men. In considering the petition, in so far as it related to the offender who is currently in custody, I had regard to all the circumstances of the case. I was aware that he had been convicted in the Circuit Court before a judge and jury, that he had appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeal and that that court had ordered a new trial on the grounds that certain new evidence had become available. I was also aware that the option of presenting the new evidence was not availed of at the retrial and that, at the retrial, the offender was convicted before another judge and jury. A further appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal was refused by that court. In all the circumstances, I decided on 25 May last that the petition, in so far as it related to this offender, had to be rejected.

As the other offender has absconded from lawful custody I do not propose to comment on the petition in so far as it related to him.

I do not consider that a public inquiry, as suggested by the Deputy, is warranted.

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