Criminal Prosecutions.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006

Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Questions (567)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

580 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 202 of 21 June 2006, the reason for the dearth of reference to an allegation or summons to the effect that the person concerned was involved in a hit and run; if the victim of the alleged hit and run has come forward or is in any way involved in the case; if persons (details supplied) were assaulted in the aftermath of the Court case of 31 May 2006; if the various outstanding summonses pending arise from events at a particular location; if the same persons are involved in each instance; if he has satisfied himself that the persons’ rights have been observed throughout the sequence of events that have culminated in the present situation; if his attention has been drawn to a fine imposed at a Court; if the person has received more summons and has appeared in Court more often than leading members of organised criminal gangs in the Dublin area in the past three years; if this is unusual; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25996/06]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that an investigation file in relation to a road traffic collision on 23 November 2005, involving one of the persons referred to, was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The injured party in this incident is a member of An Garda Síochána who is a witness for the prosecution in another incident involving that person.

A direction to prosecute was received from the Director of Public Prosecutions and ten summonses relating to offences under the Road Traffic Acts 1961-2005 were issued. The charges were due to be heard before Dublin District Court on 31 May 2006. However, the person was jailed for contempt by the judge on that date and the charges were adjourned until 28 November 2006.

All incidents involving the person were investigated by different Gardaí. The member of An Garda Síochána injured in the road traffic collision on 23 November 2005 is not involved in each incident. There are currently sixteen summonses against the person.

Gardaí have not received any complaint regarding allegations of assault in the aftermath of the court case on 31 May 2006.

As I have no role in relation to the investigation or prosecution of offences, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.