Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

Private Kevin Barrett died on 18 February 1999 while serving with the 84th infantry battalion in Lebanon. His death was the subject of a UN board of inquiry and an Irish contingent board of inquiry as well as a military police investigation. The coroner for north-west Donegal also held an inquest into the death of Private Barrett from 5 to 8 September 2005. The jury in the inquest returned an open verdict.

I met Mrs. Barrett, who was accompanied by her solicitor, on 4 October 2005. During my meeting with Mrs. Barrett I gave her an undertaking to have the interaction between my Department and the Defence Forces and her and Private Barrett's family reviewed by an independent person.

On 28 October 2005 I appointed Mr. Sean Hurley to carry out an independent review of the interaction between the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces and parents and family of Private Barrett in the aftermath of his tragic death. I received his report on 2 February 2006.

Mr. Hurley has conducted a thorough inquiry and has provided a detailed and frank report. It is clear and concise and covers the issues raised with me by Kevin Barrett's family. Mr. Hurley examined how the Department and the Defence Forces interacted with the Barrett family after Kevin Barrett's death and identified some clear failings and shortcomings. Copies of the review were provided to the Barrett family and its legal advisers on 3 February 2006, and the full report was published on my Department's website on 6 February 2006.

I accept the recommendations and conclusions contained in the report and I assure the Barrett family that I will act on these. Important lessons have been learnt for the future and errors that have occurred in the handling of this tragic case, outlined by Mr. Hurley, must never be repeated. Mr. Hurley acknowledges that some of these have since been addressed in the new Guidelines for Dealing with Bereaved Families introduced by the Defence Forces in 2001. These guidelines will be reviewed to include Mr. Hurley's recommendations.

On receipt of Mr. Hurley's report, I contacted the Garda Commissioner and asked him to provide for me his views on any possible assistance the Garda Síochána could provide. A Garda officer has since been assigned to the case and is examining my Department's files and the Defence Forces files on the case to determine whether the Garda Síochána can provide assistance in the matter.

I repeat my apology to the Barrett family for the pain and suffering they endured following Kevin's tragic death.

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