Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2006
30 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received a report into the death of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9693/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra32 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received a report into the death of a person (details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9684/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 32 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that following correspondence from the person's family, and a meeting with senior Garda officers, the Garda Commissioner directed that a review of the original investigation into the death of the person be conducted. The review was carried out under the direction and supervision of a detective chief superintendent and detective superintendent of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, NBCI.
The review was comprehensive in nature and involved the taking of 170 statements from family, friends, work colleagues and a wide range of people who had any interaction with the person during their life. Underwater searches were carried out by divers from the Garda underwater unit at the location where the person's body was discovered. Officers from the Irish Naval Service also carried out tests at the same location on a day when the prevailing sea conditions where similar to the day that the person's body was discovered, to observe the effect of the incoming tide on a body in the water. Assistance was also provided by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Extensive inquiries were also carried out for the purpose of obtaining any CCTV footage. Furthermore, the State pathologist reviewed the original post mortem carried out on the person.
I am informed that there is no evidence from either the initial investigation into the death of the person or the recent review to suggest foul play. There were no injuries to the body to suggest anything other than death by drowning. This fact is borne out by the findings of the inquest into the death of the person and also corroborated by the medical evidence.
On 22 February 2006 the detective chief superintendent from the NBCI met members of the person's family and explained in detail to them the results of the review.
