Jim Higgins
Question:3 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons recorded as missing persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11566/98]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Priority Questions. - Missing Persons.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the most recently published statistics regarding missing persons are contained in the 1996 annual report of the Garda Síochána. The statistics for 1996 show that of 1,848 persons reported missing, eight remained untraced at the end of that year.
The report for 1997 will be published later this year and I understand from the Garda authorities that the provisional figures for 1997 indicate that of 1,765 persons reported missing, six remain untraced. While more than 99 per cent of persons who are reported missing return home, I realise that for the small number of families of long-term missing persons there is considerable and ongoing heartbreak.
Regarding the general issue of missing persons, the Deputy is aware that I have a special interest in the investigation of these types of cases and also in the manner in which the Garda handle the cases and liaise with the families concerned. Therefore, I wish to set out for the Deputy's information some recent developments in this area. In my reply of 2 December last to a priority question tabled by the Deputy, I referred to the fact that officials of my Department and the Garda Síochána would be travelling to the UK to assess the potential value of a new investigative approach in operation in that jurisdiction. The initiatives in question involved the analysis of serious crimes using sophisticated computer software, the creation of a national network of designated regional liaison officers to serve as contact points and the establishment of a central help desk for officers investigating particular types of crimes. A senior official of my Department, with an officer from Garda Headquarters, subsequently travelled to the UK to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative and its possible application for investigating cases of missing persons in this jurisdiction.
I am advised that the operation of the UK initiative is in fact similar to the approach taken by the Garda Síochána in this jurisdiction in that local officers take the lead role in a case and have all relevant expertise available to them as required. The need for the elaborate structures which they have in the UK is principally to improve co-ordination and to facilitate information sharing among the more than 50 police forces investigating crime there. We should also not lose sight of the fact that they have considerably more serious crime, particularly serious sexual crime involving abduction.
As regards the specific aspect of the use of state of the art information technology applications, I am satisfied that the module on missing persons which is contained in the first release of PULSE, which will begin its implementation later this year, is equal to the best available to any police force anywhere. It should, of course, be realised that computerised crime linkage analysis systems are generally developed and deployed in countries such as Canada, the USA, Belgium and the UK which do not have a national police force. I am sure the Deputy followed the media coverage of the National Crime Forum. I was concerned with some of the experiences which were recounted to the forum, specifically the incidents where individuals felt that there was poor follow through, albeit in a minority of cases, by the Garda when it came to dealing with those affected by crime and keeping them informed of the status of an investigation. Because of this concern, I welcome the recent changes in the procedures for dealing with missing persons cases which the Commissioner has introduced and the renewed emphasis he has placed on the role of Garda liaison officers in these cases. New guidelines have also been introduced by the Garda to assist and involve the reportee or family of the missing person. Of course, it goes without saying that the question of taking any additional operational measures to investigate such cases is being kept under review by the Garda Commissioner.
Finally, an official of my Department met recently and will liaise with the Missing Persons Helpline to discuss its operation and to see if there is any assistance my Department can provide.
(Mayo): Does the Minister recall giving a categorical assurance that if and when he became Minister for Justice he would establish a specially dedicated Garda missing persons unit? Does he realise that irrespective of whatever welcome measures have been introduced by way of state of the art investigation procedures, computerisation, help desks and local officers, they do not represent the kind of specialised, dedicated unit that is required and promised by him in Opposition?
It is true that I indicated my preference for a missing persons unit. Since returning to Government I have indicated it was a possibility that should be seriously examined, particularly in the context of my plans for an officer of my Department to visit the UK and examine the system there. As I explained, a senior Garda and a departmental official visited the UK to examine their procedures. The PULSE programme, as it relates to this area, is of considerable importance and has assisted the gardaí greatly.
The establishment of a missing persons unit is an operational decision for the Garda Commissioner that is being kept under continuous review. I am satisfied that the arrangements put in place since this Government took office are an improvement on the previous situation. The response to concerns expressed at the National Crime Forum will be welcomed by everybody.
(Mayo): Improvements or otherwise, this represents a broken promise. Is the Minister aware that over 70 people who have gone missing since 1990 have remained untraced? There is a huge information gap. It is an unfortunate assumption that the vast majority of these people were abducted and are dead, but the grieving period has not ended for their relatives. There are no bodies, no funerals and no grieving periods. They have no redress.
To save people from that harrowing experience in future, the Minister should set up a dedicated unit with specially trained personnel using the techniques lauded by the Minister today. The staff of this unit would have recourse to the best equipment and knowledge. They would exchange information with other jurisdictions which have these specialist units and which have had enormous success in dealing with abduction.
I have indicated my views and those of the Garda Commissioner to the Deputy. It is true that approximately 80 of the 12,000 people who went missing between 1990 and 1997 remain missing. Naturally this is a cause of great concern and one has the greatest sympathy with their relatives. I share Deputy Higgins's view that it is a time of terrible distress which is accentuated by the fact that they do not know where their missing relatives are.
Files on missing persons are kept open until there is a conclusion in the case, and every case is kept under continuous review. Analysis of data on this matter on a year by year basis shows that the situation has improved. The worst year this decade appears to have been 1990, when 16 persons went missing who are still unaccounted for. That is a statistical improvement but is little consolation to the families whose loved ones are missing.
It is my intention as Minister to keep a close eye on this situation. I regard these matters as particularly tragic requiring the most humane and vigorous response possible.