Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)

I welcome that the O'Farrell family have finally got an apology today. Is it enough? I do not know but we all very clearly know that we are only here, 14 years on from that young man's death, because of the sheer persistence, tenacity and fight of a family. Lucia, Jim, Hannah, Gemma, Pia and Amy, you have been fobbed off and told that Shane was to blame for his own death. No family in this State should have had to put in the effort you have had to put in over 14 years, day and night, but you have had to and it is only because of all of that effort and heartbreak that we are here today. I hope today will give you some peace. You have been an inspiration for other families who have been wronged by this State.

I do not want to take away from Shane and the O'Farrell family today in any shape or form but I want to reflect very briefly on the fact that this coming Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of a young man, whose family Deputy Gannon and I know well, going into Store Street Garda station for a minor misdemeanour and coming out unconscious. For the family of Terence Wheelock, the pain and festering anger and frustration at the wrong they believe was inflicted on their brother lives on to this day. There are other families across this State who have been wronged by An Garda Síochána and the criminal justice system who have to fight on and who may never have had the energy the O'Farrell family has shown. The O'Farrell family has been a great inspiration. I am very glad that we are here today.

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