Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell
Dail Éireann — 2021-10-21
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Brendan Smith (FF), Cavan-Monaghan

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister for her reply. My question has been framed in the background that on 14 June 2018 we all voted in this Chamber calling on the Government to establish a public inquiry. As we in this House all know, the O'Farrell family has worked tirelessly seeking justice for their only son and brother. The State failed them in the manner in which the death of Shane was investigated, prosecuted and in the manner in which the family's complaints around the investigation and prosecution was handled by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC.
Justice has to be done in regard to this exceptionally good, young man who was killed by a driver who should not have been at liberty at the time. At that time, the person who was driving that car had 42 previous convictions and was on bail in respect of several offences. He had breached the conditions of those bail bonds and was serving suspended sentences which should have been activated had the courts been informed of his convictions. It is a litany of dysfunctionality and a terrible injustice to a fine young Monaghan man.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2021-10-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:49:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2021-10-21