I know that all Members of the House would have been deeply shocked by the events referred to in the Deputy's question and would join me in expressing sympathy, in particular, to the mother of the child involved. The circumstances of the case in question remain under investigation and, pending the outcome of that investigation, there are clearly limits to the amount of detail I can give to the House.
The child in question disappeared from Douglas, Cork on 4 December 1999. I understand, as with all cases of missing persons, the Garda Síochána, upon notification of the disappearance, immediately commenced inquiries and reached a preliminary conclusion that the child had been abducted by her father.
Subsequently, on 7 December 1999, members of the Garda Síochána in Douglas contacted the central authority for child abduction, based in my Department, and outlined the circumstances of the abduction. Through the solicitor of the child's mother, the central authority immediately set about offering the services of the international network of central authorities for the return of the child to her mother, under the terms of The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. However, it is understood the child's mother decided not to avail of this offer and, instead, engaged the services of a solicitor in England and Wales. I further understand various orders were obtained in the High Court of Justice, family division, in London for the return of the child under The Hague Convention. However, the child was not located in that jurisdiction.
I understand, concurrently, established procedures in relation to missing persons were implemented by the Garda Síochána with regard to this case. These procedures involve the Garda district officer of the area from which a person goes missing taking direct responsibility for the investigation and employing all necessary investigative means, including, as required, the services of all specialist units. Moreover, a Garda liaison officer was appointed to liaise with one appointed family member in order to update the family on any developments that took place.
I am assured by the Garda authorities that, in such cases, the Garda Síochána does all in its power to locate the missing person and that it provides considerable support to the family. Unfortunately, in this case, the child and her father remained unlocated for some considerable time. However, on 30 August last, members of the Garda Síochána visited a house known as Croan Lodge on Coleville Road, Clonmel, County Tipperary. The House will be aware that, in the events which unfolded, the gardaí discovered the bodies of the missing child and her father. Both had received fatal gunshot wounds. The scene was examined by the Garda Technical Bureau and was visited by the State Pathologist, Dr. John Harbison.
In the light of the tragic outcome of this case, the Garda Commissioner appointed a senior officer to examine and investigate all aspects of the circumstances surrounding this incident. It would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment on the detail of this matter pending completion of that investigation.