Vol. 568 No. 3
99 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason no successful prosecution has been mounted in the matter of the unlawful killing of a person (details supplied); if the State authorities consider this file to be closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16254/03]
I have had enquiries made in this matter and I am informed that the Garda authorities are satisfied that this case was the subject of a full and proper investigation which resulted in a person being charged on the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions and subsequently dealt with by the courts.
As the Deputy will be aware, the courts are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. I have no function in relation to verdicts of the courts, nor is it open to me to intervene in court proceedings of this kind. I have been informed that the defendant in this case was acquitted on all charges by the jury who returned a verdict of not guilty.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that local gardaí have met the parents of the person named in the question on a number of occasions before, during and after the trial to explain the various legal procedures involved in the case and to assist them generally in any way they can to come to terms with their son's death. Officials of my Department have also met the parents to explain the legal issues involved.
