Vol. 450 No. 6
23 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice if she will order an inquiry into the assault of a ten year old boy in Ballybeg, Waterford, by classmates in view of the fact that nobody appears to be accepting responsibility for an investigation into the assault despite the fact that the identities of the assailants are known. [5482/95]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a Garda investigation into the incident referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage and a file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the near future. It is incorrect to say, therefore, that nobody is accepting responsibility for this investigation. I should add that an investigation into alleged asaults on two brothers of the boy concerned is also under way with a view to forwarding a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
As the incidents are now under investigation and files are to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment further on the cases in question at this time.
However, I wish to reiterate what the Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Austin Currie, said in the House last Wednesday when the matter was raised on the adjournment. In so far as the general issue of bullying is concerned, parents should have no hesitation whatsoever in reporting such matters to the Garda where they feel that this is the appropriate action. The criminal law is there to protect all members of society, including school children. I can assure the Deputy that all complaints with regard to breaches of the criminal law will be vigorously investigated by the Garda and appropriate action taken.
