Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ms Dara Quigley, a constituent of mine from Clonshaugh in Dublin Bay North, died tragically by drowning on 12 April 2017. Dara was a talented young journalist and community activist. Among her writings were a sharp and insightful blog entitled "Degree of uncertainty" and articles for the Dublin Inquirernewspaper. Her community activities included a strong role in the water charges protest movement. On the morning of 7 April 2017, Dara was emotionally distressed and found walking naked on Harcourt Street by members of An Garda Síochána who detained her under the Mental Health Act 2001.

This incident was recorded by Garda CCTV cameras and a recording of the footage showing Dara in great distress was allegedly shared in a WhatsApp group, posted onto Facebook and viewed over 125,000 times. Dara became aware of the disclosure while spending some time in rural County Tipperary and five days later she died there by drowning. The tragedy has had a devastating impact on Dara’s mother, Ms Aileen Malone, her siblings and family. They have striven tirelessly to secure accountability and justice for Dara and to support moves in this House and by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties to end online image-based sexual abuse.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, undertook an investigation of the leak and dissemination of the CCTV footage. Last August, GSOC informed me that its disciplinary investigation had concluded and a report pursuant to section 97 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 containing recommendations was forwarded to the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, on 25 July. GSOC went on to state that the matter rests with the Garda Commissioner in terms of the application of the Garda discipline regulations but was unable to give a timeframe to the family or to me.

Dara’s family requested a copy of the GSOC report but this was refused. Surely, they are entitled to that. In August 2018, the Data Protection Commissioner confirmed to Aileen Malone that Dara was the victim of an unauthorised data breach, which is an offence under section 22 of the Data Protection Act, as amended. I was also informed by GSOC that Mr. Joe Kelly, the coroner for north Tipperary, was preparing to hold the inquest into Dara’s death last month but this has still not happened. Dara’s mother and her siblings also asked for a meeting with Commissioner Harris. I also contacted the Commissioner supporting that request but unfortunately, so far, that has been declined.

Would the Taoiseach agree that non-consensual distribution of private and intimate images can have appalling consequences? Would he also agree that it is particularly shocking that the publication of these images is based on CCTV footage allegedly linked to An Garda Síochána? Will the GSOC report now be made speedily available to the family and to their solicitor, Mr. Gareth Noble, so that a long-delayed inquest may be held?

Over recent weeks, through Joe Duffy and other journalists, there has been a major public debate about harassment and bullying and the stories of other tragic victims of online abuse have been brought to public attention. I am aware of the work on the matter by the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality led by Deputy Ó Caoláin and of Deputy Howlin’s Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017. Do we not need to act very fast in this area?

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