John Bruton
Question:66 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on recent meetings between members of the Government and the relatives of the late Garda Quaid. [12670/98]
Written Answers. - Prisoner Releases.
I had what I considered to be a private meeting with members of the Quaid family and some of their friends on Tuesday, 26 May last.
I do not propose to go into the details of our discussions but the family put very forcefully to me their views on reports of the possible release, in accordance with the provisions of the British-Irish Agreement of 10 April, 1998 of the person currently serving a 40 year prison sentence for the murder of Garda Seamus Quaid in 1980. I told the family that I fully understood their deep feelings of grief and their concern at the possible release.
I undertook to keep in touch with the family and to keep them informed of developments in this particular case.