Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

Go raibh maith agat, a chathaoirligh. Tá áthas orm an seans a bheith agam labhairt faoi Mhicheál Ó Duibhir as Condae Thiobraid Árainn, a fuair bás ins an Bholaive.

I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak about the tragic death of Mr. Michael Dwyer of Brockagh, Ballinderry, Nenagh, County Tipperary, which happened on 16 April of this year. Michael Dwyer was a young man of 24, a carefree and loving son and grandson. The terrible news of his tragic death came to County Tipperary, shocking his parish and the entire hinterland of Ballinderry. Many questions surround the circumstances of his death.

Michael had completed studies in construction management and always had a good work ethic. He was well admired and loved by his companions at college and at school. He attended Borrisokane community college. However, he undertook this journey as he wanted to see the world. He headed off on 17 November 2008 to Bolivia initially intending to stay for a short period of time, approximately eight weeks. He felt this trip would start the trip of a lifetime. He intended to return within a short period of time but in late January 2009, he decided to extend his stay in Bolivia until the end of April or so due to the fact he did not believe there was work available in the areas of construction or security in which he had worked in Ireland previously.

On 16 April 2009 he was tragically murdered in Bolivia, a cause of deep sorrow to his parents, Martin and Caroline, and his siblings, Aisling, Ciara and Emmett. His family have been traumatised but softening that tragedy is the support they have received from their local community, their friends and, indeed, the Members of this House. I pay tribute to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, and his staff, Deputy O'Hanlon, Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Deputy Woods and all the Members of this House who met the Dwyer family and listened intently to their case, which was excellently presented to them recently.

On 13 October, the Dublin county coroner held the inquest into Michael's death. The coroner, Kieran Geraghty, was present along with members of the Dwyer family and other people, including Dr. Marie Cassidy, the State Pathologist. According to the report, Michael had a single bullet wound to the chest which went through his heart and lungs and killed him. The Bolivian autopsy stated that his heart was intact and that there were six bullet entry wounds, one to the front and five to the back.

The report of Dr. Cassidy confirms that there was no bullet exit wound whereas the Bolivian report states there were three bullet exist wounds. While there is conflict and discrepancies in the reports in regard to Michael's death, there will always be questions. We acknowledge the support from the Department of Foreign Affairs but questions will remain if not answered. The Dwyer family is extremely anxious that progress is made in the communications with the Bolivian authorities, which have been initiated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and by Deputy O'Hanlon through the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Other discrepancies have been also mentioned in regard to the forensic swabs taken as part of the autopsy at the morgue following a 15-hour delay at the hotel where the shooting took place. The delay and the subsequent handling of Michael's body call into question the integrity of the reports which emerged from that investigation in Bolivia.

The ballistics report also states that the examination on 22 April took place six days after the shooting when the rooms had been cleaned and when the evidence had been removed. There are many unanswered questions and there is much more to be said about this case.

I put on record my unwavering support for the Dwyer family in this tragedy. I look forward to hearing the response in regard to the family's call for a well-resourced international inquiry into the death of Michael Dwyer.

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