James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have addressed the issue of the proposal around a public inquiry or something similar. In regard to the Una Lynskey case, the events of 50 years ago in Ratoath, County Meath, were an horrific tragedy and I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the families of both Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan, whose families continue to suffer so many years after their murders. As the Deputies will be aware, Martin Conmey received an apology from the then Minister for Justice on behalf of the State in 2016 and I welcome the further written apology the Garda Commissioner has provided to Mr. Conmey with regard to the miscarriage of justice he suffered. The Garda serious crime review team will be carrying out a review of that case this year. I hope this review will help to bring some closure to all of the families involved in that case. Any further actions which may need to be taken can be considered upon the completion of the serious crime review team.

As the Deputies will be aware, the Sallins train robbery case relates to an offence that was committed over 45 years ago. The events in question culminated in the overturning of the convictions of two persons by the courts in 1980 and a pardon for a particular individual in 1992.

In regard to the Kerry babies case, as the Deputies will be aware, there remains an active Garda investigation in place with regard to the Kerry babies. In that context, it would not be appropriate for me to comment in any detail on what is an ongoing Garda investigation. I believe Joanne Hayes was very badly and wrongly treated by the institutions of our State at that time. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the apology made by the then Taoiseach to Ms Hayes in 2018 for the terrible ordeal she and her family endured 30 years ago. Investigating gardaí continue to believe there are members of the public who have information in regard to the death of baby John in April 1984. I join with An Garda Síochána in appealing to those people to come forward and to contact Killarney Garda station, the Garda confidential line or any Garda station in regard to this matter.

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