Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 14 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 2

Written Answers. - Garda Investigations.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

124 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that the Garda Síochána took all appropriate action to trace the whereabouts of a person (details supplied) following his disappearance; and the reason a search of the general area adjacent to where he was last seen was not undertaken. [17546/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the person in question was last seen by his friends in Nassau Street, Dublin 2, in the early hours of 12 May 2001, and was subsequently reported missing by his brother at Clontarf station on 14 May 2001.

I am further informed that the gardaí at Clontarf then made contact with the gardaí at Pearse Street station. The superintendent of Pearse Street station was immediately notified of the fact, and daily contact at detective inspector level was maintained between both districts on all aspects of the investigation.

A press release was issued by the Garda Press Office on 15 May 2001, a missing persons report was forwarded and the matter was circulated by telex to all Garda stations nationwide. A trace was placed on the subject's mobile phone and his bank accounts were monitored. Twenty video tapes from the vicinity were secured and examined by the investigating gardaí. Posters were placed throughout the city centre by the Garda Síochána and by family members, and the Garda Crimeline office was contacted with a view to ensuring maximum media coverage. All gardaí within the Dublin metropolitan region were made aware of the subject's disappearance and, in particular, the gardaí at Pearse Street station, from whose area the person in question had gone missing.

As the Deputy will be aware, the body of the person in question was discovered on 30 May 2001 in the basement at the rear of a financial institution on Grafton Street-Suffolk Street. The area where the discovery was made is on private property, which was blocked off by an eight foot high gate, and which was not in a laneway to which the general public have access.

I am also informed by the Garda authorities that the media reports, which indicated that the subject's wallet and jacket were missing, are erroneous.