An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-23
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Chris Andrews (SF), Labour Panel

I congratulate the Leader. For the last couple of weeks, we were not able to do that from this side of House. It was not going to help him or anything. I really wish the Leader well. Obviously, we have our political differences but we have a lot of shared interests. I wish the Leader and his family well. It is a great honour for Senator Ahearn and I know that he has the qualities that are needed to maintain this role.
In 2023, Gary Ward, a young man, died by suicide. That is three years ago. Last March, I raised his case. He had a lot of mental health issues. He was a loving son. He studied politics in UCD and he was failed by the mental health system. Three years later, the family still have no sight of the inquest. The coroner has literally blanked the family. Obviously, this is very distressing for the family. It does not give them any sense of closure. As I say, they have had radio silence from the coroner's office and that just is not acceptable. The family and Gary were failed by the mental health system and now they are being failed, once again, by the coroner's office. Clearly, the coroner's office is not fit for purpose. To wait three years for an inquest seems completely unacceptable. The family need answers. They need some sort of peace and closure.
I ask that the Minister come in here to explain how he plans to address the crisis in the coroner’s office. It is very unfair on families, not just families like Gary’s, but families across the country.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-23