An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2020-11-06
============================================================

Catherine Ardagh (FF), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I raise again the untimely death of Shane O'Farrell. This tragic killing has been discussed twice in this House and the Dáil since 2017. Shane O'Farrell died in a road traffic accident nine years ago in August. He was hit by a car driven by Mr. Zigimantas Gridziuska, who had 42 previous convictions and was at large while on bail. He should have been in prison for breaching many bail conditions but was dangerously out on this day, killing beautiful young Shane O'Farrell, aged 23 years, in August 2011 near Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. This matter received cross-party support when it was discussed in both Houses. Two years ago, the then Minster for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, established a scoping inquiry headed by Judge Gerard Haughton. I understand the family have met the judge and are working well with him. It is expected the report will be completed in December. I ask the Leader to seek an update from the Minister on that. When the report is published, I ask that the Leader make time in the House early in the new year to discuss it. We need justice in this case, not only for the family but also the public generally. We need facts. We need to give some solace to the family, who need to know the truth so that they may finally put the matter to rest and get on with their lives in some sort of normality.
The Oliver Bond flats complex in Dublin has a serious rat infestation. I have been asked to name a lady whose flat is infested. Lindsay O'Brien has rats in her bathroom and her kitchen. It is a disgrace that people are living like this in this day and age. None of us here would put up with that and no one living in council property should put up with it either.

---

Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted.

Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2020-11-06/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-11-06