Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
912. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the scoping exercise into the death of a person (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the family of the deceased has requested a public inquiry into his untimely death; the reason for refusing the inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33415/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the matter of the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of the late Shane O'Farrell has been addressed by me on several occasions in both the Dáil and the Seanad.
Following the Dáil motion calling for an inquiry last year, I sought the advice of the Attorney General on how best to move forward while taking account of the fact that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was still investigating certain matters. Since then, I have appointed retired District Court Judge Gerard Haughton to conduct a scoping exercise and to advise me in relation to the case.
Judge Haughton has met with the O'Farrell family to discuss the terms of reference and to seek their views. I subsequently received his proposal for some changes to the terms of reference for the scoping exercise and I sought further advice from the Attorney General on those changes. That advice has been received and my Department is currently examining it with a view to finalising the terms of reference and formally commencing the scoping exercise.
Judge Haughton is required to provide me with an interim report within 8 weeks of the commencement of the scoping exercise. He is free to make any recommendation he sees fit, including the establishment of any of the various forms of statutory or non-statutory inquiry. Should he consider it necessary to recommend an inquiry, I have asked him to provide me with draft terms of reference.
