Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2015
329. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will assist in locating documents pertaining to a Garda investigation and coroner's report into the death of a person (details supplied) in County Louth in 1981. [7126/15]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the particular case to which he refers is amongst those being considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case.
The maintenance of individual Garda investigation files is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner and is not a matter in which I have any role or function. However, I understand that the file referred to by the Deputy has come to light and that a copy of it has been made available to the Independent Review Mechanism. I also understand that a member of the family of the person referred to by the Deputy has been notified that this is the case.
I have no role or function in relation to the conduct of individual inquests. The legislation governing coroner matters, the Coroners Act 1962, provides that a coroner is a statutory officer exercising quasi-judicial functions in relation to which he or she is independent. The conduct of the inquest and the release of documents is solely at the discretion of the coroner.
