Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

This case concerns Amy Fitzpatrick, who disappeared in January 2008 while living in the town of Calahonda in Spain. She lived with her mother Audrey, stepfather David Mahon and her brother Dean. She was 15 years of age at the time.

The Spanish authorities put in a credible effort to locate her, sadly to no avail. Subsequent to that, tragedy struck again when Amy's brother Dean, then aged 23, was stabbed to death by his stepfather, David Mahon, in Northern Cross in Dublin in May 2013. David Mahon was tried and this year found guilty of the killing and is serving a seven-year sentence. All of this has been an unimaginable ordeal for Amy and Dean's biological father, Christopher Fitzpatrick.

Christopher and his sister Christine have never given up on trying to establish what became of Amy. In light of events, Christopher and Christine reasonably feel that there is an obvious fresh line of inquiry that the Guardia Civil in Spain could pursue and that the help of the Government is needed to respectfully prompt the Spanish authorities to pursue this. I am obviously constrained in what more I can say, but the Minister will understand.

Christopher and Christine, who have supporters in the Gallery, submitted a letter to the Minister for Justice and Equality requesting that this be done. My office was asked to submit a question to the Minister alluding to the letter and to seek a positive response. My question was forwarded to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I ask him if he will take the necessary steps to talk to the Spanish authorities and, as necessary, liaise with the Department of Justice and Equality and-or gardaí to ensure they share whatever information they think may be of use to the Guardia Civil in this matter. It would be beneficial if the Department of Foreign and Trade and-or representatives of the Department of Justice and Equality could meet Christopher and Christine.

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