Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The second report of the Morris tribunal reveals a very disturbing and shocking catalogue of events in the Donegal division of the Garda Síochána some eight years ago. In short, the report finds that there was a rush to judgment on the part of the Garda Síochána, but that there were also elements within the Garda who set out to frame Frank McBrearty junior and Mark McConnell for murder. While the report is reluctant to make a finding that the investigation was corrupt in its leadership, it finds that it was prejudiced and negligent in the highest degree.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Government take the most serious view of this report and consider that both it and the first report should be urgently discussed in both this House and the Seanad. The Whips are now arranging this.

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