Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 1995

Vol. 455 No. 1

Written Answers. - Letter Contents Investigation.

John O'Donoghue

Question:

117 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice whether she has completed her investigation into the contents of a letter written to her dated 18 November 1994 from solicitors acting for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 who is pursuing a civil assault; whether those details have been passed on to the solicitors in question; whether she has satisfied herself as to the question of delay in dealing with the substance of those inquiries either by the Garda Síochána or by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11771/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The information being sought in the solicitor's letter of 18 November 1994 refers to an incident which occurred in 1986. The Garda Authorities have informed my Department that they were asked directly by the firm of solicitors concerned to furnish this information in October 1994. I understand that the Garda authorities' response was that the information was confidential and that consequently they could not accede to the request.

The incident in question was fully investigated in 1986 and a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who directed that there should be no prosecution. During 1987 and 1989 and again in 1994 the solicitors acting for the individual attempted to get information which is confidential. Some non-confidential material was supplied however.

On receipt of the solicitor's letter last November, the Garda authorities were requested by my Department to furnish a report on the matter, which was received in mid-February. The matter was referred to the Chief State Solicitor for legal advice on the 26th of this month and my Department will be in touch with the solicitors concerned as soon as that advice is to hand.

Unfortunately, the papers were inadvertently mislaid in my Department hence the delay in sending them to the Chief State Solicitor. The delay is regretted but the Deputy can be assured that the matter will be followed up as quickly as possible.