Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I want to raise a sad and serious case of the death, on 2 February 2002, of Shane Tuohey from Derrycooley, Clara, Tullamore, County Offally. Shane was a young turfcutter. He was 23 years old when he went missing after a night out, and was last seen at 4.20 a.m. The Garda investigation quickly concluded that foul play was not suspected and also the inquest found that he had drowned by immersion in cold water. The reason I raise this is that other evidence and major concerns have emerged about Shane Tuohey's death. The family have asked me to raise this case with the Minister. They have asked the Government, the Minister in particular, some questions and whether they will support a full investigation and inquiry of this case. Is the Minister familiar with this case and does he have any information on the background to the case? I call on the State and the Government to examine all the new evidence, especially the wealth of new evidence that has given rise to a suspicion of foul play. Shane Tuohey was verbally and physically abused by a group of men in the months before his death. Will the Minister or any new investigation find out if, as witnesses have said, the abuse continued on the night of the death and whether this is correct? Is the Minister also aware that the initial Garda report could have been more professional and that it failed to follow standard procedures in several respects? Why do they still hold on to the conclusion that Shane Tuohey's death was accidental or suicidal when there is now genuine evidence that Shane Tuohey was struck by someone or by a car door? Will the Government support a call by the family for a proper, full investigation which will include this new evidence?

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