John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister of State's reply in so far as the best result for Fr. Molloy's family would be to see his killer or killers convicted of the offence committee in July 1985. However, I fully agree with Deputy Creed that the delay in this case is just extraordinary. There is an old saying that "justice delayed is justice denied". Justice has been delayed to an extraordinary extent in this case. Legitimate concerns have been raised by the Molloy family with regard to the initial investigation and the subsequent trial. They are exasperated that two years after the serious crime review unit - or cold case unit - was asked to investigate this matter, there does not appear to have been much, if any, progress made. I completely agree with the Minister of State that the most positive outcome would be the conviction of those responsible. However, this inquiry cannot be allowed to go on into the future without a result being obtained. The least Fr. Molloy's family deserve is to be given some reassurance and an indication of how long the investigation is expected to continue and a timeframe as to when a report will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

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