Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to begin by expressing my sympathy and that of the Fianna Fáil Party to the Marron family and the Border community in Castleblayney, County Monaghan on the death of Mr. Stephen Marron. Stephen was going about his daily job and was tragically killed as he sat in a parked car on Main Street in Castleblayney. He was a family man, only 47 years of age in the prime of his life, and it was a life that was being very well lived. His wife, two children and family and the Border community are this morning reeling, their lives ripped asunder. He was the assistant sacristan in his local church and was described as the go-to man for many in his community. The tribute earlier on "Morning Ireland" from his local canon reflected that.

The clips we saw on RTÉ and on all media last night from CCTV in Castleblayney on Tuesday evening are like something from the movies, except they are very real for the family and the community. After crashing into Stephen's parked car at high speed, the driver then drove on and crashed into a pole. He has since been detained. It seems that earlier this same person arrived at Castleblayney Garda station, was recognised by a garda who had previously had dealings with him and who then tried to stop this person leaving the station. The person left, drove on regardless and this tragedy unfolded.

The Tánaiste will also join me in paying tribute to Garda Michael Devlin who showed enormous courage and who, I understand, was previously injured on duty. He showed more courage and bravery again on Tuesday evening and we think of him and his family today.

The Tánaiste will agree that, in isolation, this story is horrendously tragic. When we read the reports today about how the suspect was on the run for a number of years and was well known to the Garda and the PSNI, it will make people question how he was allowed to walk our streets free, let alone drive on our roads, and how many other such cases are there within our system? Can he confidently say that our gardaí are resourced and have the available knowledge to brief them on this kind of suspect were they to meet a suspect or another one, particularly along the Border which they cross over and back, in such circumstances? Does the Tánaiste or the Government have a plan to review this incident and how it happened? How many other people is the Government aware of who are on the run in situations similar to this? Will the Government and the Garda Commissioner discuss this matter the PSNI? Are there plans to increase co-operation between the Garda and the PSNI and the courts system to ensure that those who are convicted of an offence on either side of the Border are not allowed to roam free for years and cause more tragedy?

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