My Department, through the consular section, the Irish Embassy in Madrid and the Honorary Consulate in Las Palmas, has been providing extensive consular assistance to the family of the person in question since April 2003 when we became aware of the case. The person mentioned sustained fatal injuries on holiday in Gran Canaria on 27 April 2003 and died in Las Palmas General Hospital on 13 May 2003.
While he was being treated in the hospital, the Irish Ambassador in Madrid made representations to the director of health services for the Canary Islands to secure more extensive access to the intensive care unit of the hospital for the family. The Honorary Consul's assistant attended the hospital to act as a translator and provide general assistance to the family.
Following his death, the embassy and Honorary Consul continued their efforts on behalf of the family, providing the names of English-speaking lawyers, maintaining continuous contact with the investigating police, forwarding official medical reports and the autopsy, and the official police report to the family. Also during this time, the Honorary Consulate, the embassy and the consular section remained in direct contact with the person's family.
I understand the person's family sought the assistance of the Garda Síochána in September 2003. They interviewed a large number of Irish holidaymakers who were in Gran Canaria at the time of the incident. Subsequently, a Garda chief superintendent travelled to Gran Canaria to report on their efforts to the Spanish police. In addition, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform wrote to his Spanish counterpart about the case.
An inquest into the person's death was opened by Dublin City Coroner on 26 November 2003 and was adjourned until 26 February 2004 when it was further adjourned until 23 June 2004, when further evidence will be taken. At my request, the embassy in Madrid made formal representations to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 17 May 2004 requesting their assistance in expediting the transmission of a copy of the investigation file from the Spanish authorities which is required by the Garda authorities for this inquest hearing. Pending a judicial decision on the matter, police investigations are continuing. I assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to provide all possible consular assistance to the family.
