Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I begin by welcoming the apology offered by the Minister for Justice, Deputy Jim O’Callaghan, to the family of Shane O’Farrell. It is a necessary and appropriate step, an acknowledgement of the profound and preventable failures that led to Shane’s death and of the deep hurt and sense of injustice his family have carried for over a decade. I echo the apology and send my heartfelt sympathies to the O’Farrell family on the tragic and avoidable loss of their beloved son and brother, Shane.

What happened to Shane should never have happened. Zigimantas Gridziuska, the man responsible for the hit-and-run incident in which Shane was killed in August 2011, had no right to be at liberty. He had more than 40 previous convictions. He was on bail for multiple offences, had breached his bail conditions and was the subject of suspended sentences that should have been activated, as outlined by the Minister earlier. Yet, inexplicably and unforgivably, no action was taken to bring him before the courts. The system failed at every turn. An hour before Shane’s death, gardaí stopped the car in which Mr. Gridziuska was travelling. The car was uninsured and lacked a valid NCT. The driver was replaced by Gridziuska himself and the car was allowed to continue on its way. That encounter could and should have led to his arrest. It could have prevented the collision that claimed Shane’s life. Instead, the opportunity was missed. The system once again looked away. A young man full of promise was lost.

The grief and heartbreak endured by the O'Farrell family have been compounded by the State’s slow, inadequate and often defensive responses. In the face of extraordinary personal loss, the family have shown immense courage and dignity. Their campaign for truth, for justice and for reform has been tireless. They have never sought vengeance. What they have sought is accountability, and through their persistence, they have forced the State to confront uncomfortable truths. I pay tribute to colleagues from across the House who stuck with the family and their campaign for justice over the years, particularly the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Deputy John McGuinness, who consistently raised the issue during the term of the previous Dáil.

As recited earlier, there have been multiple investigations and inquiries. Each process shed further light on the gaps and dysfunctions within our criminal justice system. While some of these inquiries concluded that no single failure directly caused Shane’s death, what is absolutely clear is this: had the system functioned properly, Gridziuska would not have been on the road that day and Shane would still be alive. The circumstances of this case raise serious concerns around the bail laws, suspended sentences and interagency communication. These are areas where the system’s failings were starkly exposed. I welcome confirmation by the Minister that work has begun on implementing reforms. That must continue at pace. We need to acknowledge what the O’Farrell family have said, namely that no report, however detailed, can heal the damage done when the State fails in its most basic duty to protect the innocent from known danger.

Alas, it is often said that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done. In this case, for too long, justice was obscured. The O’Farrell family were left to navigate a maze of bureaucracy, evasion and delay. That must never be repeated. We owe it to them and to Shane’s memory to ensure no other family find themselves in such a position. Let me be clear: this is not about one tragic case alone; it is about the integrity of our justice system. It is about whether the safeguards we believe are in place are actually functioning and about how the State responds when things go wrong. The measures introduced in recent years, including reforms to bail and sentencing law, are welcome, but reform must be ongoing. It must be grounded in compassion, accountability and a willingness to listen. That includes listening to the families of victims. It includes respecting their experience even, and especially, when it challenges official narratives.

The O’Farrells have done this State a service by refusing to remain silent. Their advocacy has already led to change. It will continue to shape how we deliver justice in this country. As we reflect today on Shane’s life and on all that has been lost, let us resolve to build a justice system that is not only more efficient, but one that is more humane, where errors are admitted, failings are corrected and the lives of victims and their families are treated with dignity and respect. To Lucia, Jim and the entire O’Farrell family, we are truly sorry for your loss. We are sorry for the failures you have endured and we are grateful for your strength in continuing to seek the justice Shane deserves.

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