Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 February 2014
166. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason An Garda Síochána is refusing to provide the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland with a copy of the journal and with access to mobile telephones which belonged to a person (details supplied) and which remains in the possession of An Garda Síochána. [9822/14]
View answer167. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason An Garda Síochána is refusing to provide access to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to mobile telephones used by a person (details supplied). [9824/14]
View answer168. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason An Garda Síochána is refusing to provide the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland with a copy of the journal which belonged to a person (details supplied) and which remains in the possession of An Garda Síochána. [9825/14]
View answer169. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he appreciates the deep concern and upset of the family of a person (details supplied) at the duration of the inquest and the repeated delays, of which there have been 11 so far, by An Garda Síochána. [9826/14]
View answer170. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to provide details on the number of meetings that have been held between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in respect of an investigation (details supplied). [9827/14]
View answer171. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to give details on the number of meetings that have been held to date between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in respect an investigation (details supplied). [9828/14]
View answer172. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána has raised with the PSNI the issue of the files held by the PSNI on the murder of a person (details supplied). [9829/14]
View answer173. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason An Garda Síochána has broken a commitment it gave to a family (details supplied) that it would share with them any information that might emerge out of its meetings with the PSNI. [9830/14]
View answer174. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána has sought an interview with a former PSNI officer who was involved with a person (details supplied) in the period surrounding their death. [9831/14]
View answer175. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that An Garda Síochána told the last inquest hearing into the killing of a person (details supplied) in April 2013 that they expected a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions within three months of that hearing on whether to instigate criminal proceedings. [9832/14]
View answer176. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will instruct An Garda Síochána to return to the family of a person (details supplied) a private journal kept by the force which contain their last writing to their family. [9835/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 166 to 176, inclusive, together.
There is an ongoing murder investigation by the Garda Síochána into the killing of the person to whom the Deputy refers in his question and, in such circumstances, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment in any further detail. I would say, however, and I feel sure the Deputy would agree with me, that there can never be any justification for the criminal, violent taking of human life, no matter what the circumstances. This was a brutal, violent killing and we all hope that its perpetrators can be brought to justice.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigation into this crime is ongoing. As would be expected in the normal course of such an investigation, the Garda investigation team has retained certain items recovered at the crime scene which are relevant to their inquiries and for potential evidential purposes.
I am aware that the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman is conducting an investigation into certain matters relating to the victim in this case and has sought the assistance of the Garda Síochána. To the extent that it is possible for the Garda authorities to co-operate with the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman they will seek to do so. They must, however, be conscious of the legal constraints applying given that they must ensure that the ongoing murder inquiry and the chances of a successful prosecution arising would not be compromised in any way.
The Garda authorities have had the co-operation and assistance of their colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland in matters that are relevant to the conduct of the Garda murder investigation from the outset of the investigation to date.
At the outset of the investigation the Garda authorities established liaison directly with the victim's family. The family subsequently indicated that it wished all communication to take place through its legal representatives and the Garda authorities have respected that request. Contact with the legal representatives is maintained as necessary.
I am aware that the Coroner's Inquest into this killing has been adjourned on a number of occasions since it opened and I can understand that this may be a cause of concern for the victim's family. The Deputy will be aware, however, that such adjournments are provided for in cases where a criminal investigation is ongoing in order to ensure that the criminal investigation would not be compromised. Any decision on a prosecution in this case, as in any other, is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions who is independent in the performance of her functions.
