Shane O'Farrell: Dáil hears allegations driver in fatal hit and run was ‘garda informer'
Minister for Justice
Jim O'Callaghan
has apologised in the Dáil to the family of the law graduate killed in a hit-and-run incident while cycling near his Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan home, by a repeat offender out on bail.
Mr O'Callaghan has appointed a senior counsel to review the bail laws in memory of 23-year-old Shane O'Farrell and the Government is to establish a legal scholarship at UCD.
Road traffic legislation in place since 1962 will also be amended to allow a jury convict a person of a lesser offence of careless driving where a person is acquitted for the more serious offence of dangerous driving.
The O'Farrell family had called for a full public inquiry into his death in August 2011 when he was struck by Zigimantas Gridziuska, who should have been in prison at the time.
READ MORE
Mr O'Callaghan signalled however that instead of an inquiry, he has asked senior counsel Lorcan Staines to assess bail laws and identify any necessary changes that need to be made.
'This is not a report that needs to establish facts since those facts are very readily apparent from the charges laid against Garidziuska in the year leading up to the death of Shane O'Farrell.'
The minister said the report would not result in people having to invoke their right and 'lawyering up in a process that would inevitably take years. More importantly, it will not need to establish any facts since the relevant facts are already known.'
During a Dáil debate Sinn Féin said Gridziuska was a 'garda informer' and had been protected 'above all else'.
Mr O'Farrell's family, who had campaigned since his death for an inquiry, were in the distinguished visitors' gallery for the apology and debate.
The minister said 'it is incumbent on me, as Minister for Justice to apologise to Shane O'Farrell and the O'Farrell family for the fact that the criminal justice system did not protect him as it should have.
'I do so apologise.'
Mr O'Callaghan said 'the loss resulting from his death was incalculable and for the family, interminable'.
The State's first failing related to documentation for an appeal by Gridziuska, which was not recorded, the Minister said.
He added that the second failure happened when the offender, who committed further offences, was not brought before Judge John O'Hagan, who had granted bail on strict conditions, nor was the judge informed of those offences.
If the convictions had been brought to the judge's attention, Gridziuska would probably have been jailed.
Gridziuska, a Lithuanian national, left the scene of the fatal crash but the following day handed himself in to gardaí. He had more than 40 convictions at the time, including some in Northern Ireland.
Sinn Féin leader
Mary Lou McDonald
said there were credible allegations that he operated as a garda informant. The party's justice spokesman Matt Carthy said 'many people, myself included, believe that Zigimantas Gridziuska was an informer, that he was permitted to wreak havoc because gardaí prioritised the protection of their source above all else'.
Mr Carthy became emotional as he described Mr O'Farrell's mother Lucia as a force of nature whose efforts had resulted in this apology, adding that 'you've done Shane proud'.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the apology was 'welcome and overdue', adding that 'it is an important day'.
Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness, a long-time campaigner on the case, paid tribute to the minister who 'despite obstacles', had shown 'leadership qualities that others should take note of', to 'ensure that justice is done'.
Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan said the family's trauma, grief and heartache had been compounded by the State's response. He called for all reports on the Monaghan man's death to be published, as he noted that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission had had the case for seven years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to deliver annual Michael Collins address at Béal na Bláth
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will deliver the oration at Béal na Bláth later this summer to mark the 103rd anniversary of the death of Gen Michael Collins in the Civil War. The event takes place this year on Sunday August 24th. 'Minister Carroll MacNeill has a deep understanding of Irish history, and we very much look forward to hearing what she will have to say in August,' said Béal na Bláth commemoration committee chairman Senator Garret Kelleher. Ms Carroll MacNeill said it was an honour to have been asked to speak at this year's commemoration. READ MORE 'This significant event allows us to remember and honour the legacy of Michael Collins, whose vision, leadership and unwavering dedication to our country and its people continue to inspire us all,' said Ms Carroll MacNeill, the first woman to give the oration since Heather Humphreys in 2021. 'His legacy of leadership and dedication to public service is something I see as I visit our healthcare community around the country and their unwavering dedication to caring for people. I am really looking forward to speaking at the commemoration and reflecting on Collins's legacy and values.' [ Jennifer Carroll MacNeill in the spotlight as health controversies intensify Opens in new window ] Ms Carroll MacNeill said she had brought her then seven-year-old son James to the 2022 commemoration and she was looking forward to bringing him back to Béal na Bláth because of his family links to Collins. She said James's great-grandfather, Capt Hugo MacNeill, accepted the surrender of Victoria Barracks in Cork from the British on behalf of Collins and the National Army on May 18th, 1922. The barracks was subsequently renamed Collins Barracks in honour of the west Cork man. The first chief of staff of the National Army, Collins was killed in an ambush by a party of anti-Treaty IRA men at Béal na Bláth on August 22nd, 1922, as he returned with a party of National Army troops from inspecting garrisons in his native west Cork.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Three men hospitalised following violent clashes in Limerick city
Three men were injured and treated in hospital following violent clashes, linked to feuding between rival criminal families, in Limerick city overnight. One of the three men taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick was being prepped to undergo 'surgery' for a serious but not life-threatening injury, sources said. The other two men had minor injuries. 'Weapons', believed to be slash hooks, were used in the violence at Hyde Avenue, on the city's south side. A car was also 'smashed up' and the area remained cordoned off by gardaí on Sunday morning. READ MORE A large group of people were involved in the clashes overnight. Local sources described the scenes as 'chaotic' and expressed concern that people could be 'killed' if it continues. The feud has escalated in recent months with increased shootings, pipe bomb attacks and firebombings of homes. Gardaí recently told Limerick District Court that 'permanent armed patrols' have been established in parts of the city, while gardaí are also stationed outside some schools. due to the feud. [ Petrol bombs and drive-bys: Why Limerick's gangland violence is back Opens in new window ] As part of the disputes, 'explosive devices have been used to target homes and individuals', with one house having to be demolished after sustaining major structural damage from a pipe-bomb attack, gardaí said. Garda sources said many involved in the feud are abusing cocaine, which is fuelling paranoia and adding to tensions. Officers have visited a number of people recently to inform them their lives are in danger due to active threats. It is understood gardaí have also intercepted the transport of guns and drugs through the city. The feud relates to a row between a criminal family and an organised crime group. Some of the individuals linked to it were closely associated with criminal figures involved in a gang row that left 20 men dead between the late 1990s and mid-2000s in Limerick.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
EU may be finally approaching ‘point of departure' on Gaza war
After 20 months of war that has seen tens of thousands of Palestinians killed, large parts of Gaza reduced to rubble and continued warnings about dire humanitarian conditions and possible famine, the European Union may finally be approaching a 'point of departure' in its relations with Israel , several diplomats say. Throughout Israel's military campaign in Gaza the response of the EU to the conflict has been defined by its inability to agree on a response. For a long period Spain and Ireland, as well as Belgium and Slovenia at times, were lonely outliers calling for the bloc to use what leverage it has to hold Israel accountable for the mounting deaths of Palestinian civilians. More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's invasion of Gaza, which followed the October 7th, 2023 attacks by Hamas militants in southern Israel. READ MORE In a sign the tide of opinion had begun to shift against Israel, some 17 of the EU's 27 states last month backed a review into whether Israel's actions in Gaza had breached human rights commitments it signed up to, as part of an EU-Israel association agreement. The agreement governing relations between the two has been in place since 2000. Crucially, it includes a free trade deal, which is economically valuable to Israel, given the EU is its biggest trading partner. The EU review said evidence 'indicates' Israel's actions in Gaza had breached its human rights obligations under the deal. Foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss the findings. One big question mark is how Israel's war with Iran will shift the dynamics in the room when the doors close behind the ministers. The Coalition of states who favour tougher consequences for Israel has grown to include Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Portugal and the Netherlands . The push to order a review of the EU-Israel deal was led by the Dutch, a traditional ally of Israel. The fact the move came from a government who previously sat in the middle ground of the debate probably convinced others to shift position. One of the union's two big powers, France, was also on board. Just because 17 capitals voted in favour of a review taking place does not mean they will all agree about what should be done now. 'This group is not homogenous, there are those who would wish to see more immediate measures taken [and] those who still want to give Israel a chance to act,' one diplomat involved in negotiations said. 'It is clear that the grouping of 17 member states is not one big bloc ... I'm hopeful that most of that group will stay together,' another diplomat said. Behind the scenes the Dutch are trying to keep the wide level of support intact, to secure a voting majority in support of some EU action to put pressure on Israel. 'We don't expect any decisions on Monday,' one EU diplomat said of the foreign ministers meeting. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief who chairs the meetings, will take soundings from the room about the findings of the review. It is likely Ms Kallas will be asked to go away and prepare possible options to put on the table at the next meeting of foreign ministers on July 15th, several diplomatic sources said. A group of nine states recently suggested the EU needs to do more to cut off trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and other occupied Palestinian territories. In a separate June 10th letter to Ms Kallas, the Swedish government said the EU should 'urgently' adopt sanctions targeting Israeli ministers who promote illegal settlements. There had been signs that even Germany, one of Israel's biggest defenders, might be poised to change its position. That was before the fighting between Israel and Iran escalated so significantly. Comments from German chancellor Friedrich Merz since then suggest the government is rowing in behind Israel, lowering the chances of Berlin supporting any EU penalties or sanction. Hungary and the Czech Republic have consistently opposed the EU taking against Israel. That means suspending the EU-Israel agreement in full is off the table, given such a move would require the unanimous backing of all 27 states. Suspending elements of the deal may only require a majority. One EU diplomat speculated recent strikes in Iran, which Israel justified as necessary to prevent Tehran developing nuclear weapons, should not divert the world's attention from the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The EU should be careful not to 'fall into the trap' and totally shift its focus, the diplomat said. Agnes Bertrand Sanz of aid charity Oxfam said the cost of inaction by the EU would be measured in lives. 'Homes flattened, hospitals destroyed and looming famine ... There is no time for more debate,' she said. The cumbersome process of agreeing on a common foreign policy position in a union of 27 governments, means any EU decision to sanction Israel – if a decision is taken – probably remains weeks or even months away.
