Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2023
78. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if he intends to establish an independent public inquiry into the death of a person (details suppled) as previously agreed by both Houses of the Oireachtas. [6870/23]
View answerI want to reiterate my condolences to the O'Farrell family on the death of their son and brother, Shane O'Farrell who was tragically killed in 2011. As I have already outlined and as the House is aware, a retired District Court Judge, Gerard Haughton, was appointed by the then Minister in 2019 to carry out a scoping exercise in light of the public controversy surrounding the circumstances of the tragic death of Shane O'Farrell.
The purpose of the scoping exercise was to advise whether any further investigation or inquiry beyond those already carried out was necessary and, if so, to advise on the form of such investigation or inquiry and its terms of reference.
Judge Haughton submitted his final report to Minister McEntee last June. Since receipt of the final report, the advice of the Attorney General was sought and received in relation to the issue of publication and other matters arising.
Minister McEntee wrote to each Department and Agency responsible for issues giving rise to recommendations in the Report and in July last year the O’Farrell family were provided with a copy of the report on a strictly confidential basis. I understand that Minister McEntee, together with the then Taoiseach, met with members of the O’Farrell family late last year regarding the report, both in terms of content and publication.
I am currently considering this important report myself and intend to decide shortly on how best to proceed.
