Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I cannot imagine how difficult it is for the O'Farrell family to listen to so much of the detail being repeated, but I think it is a significant step that an apology has been achieved. I commend the O'Farrell family for their campaigning. I had many meetings with Lucia and the family. In my nine years in this place, she is one of the most impressive people I have ever met. I refer to her level of detail and just seeing things that passed other people by. As the Minister stated, there is no question but that we would not be in this position other than from Lucia's campaigning. I know she was supported by the whole family and by people outside the family, but there is no question about the fact that we would not be at this stage without her. We cannot think of what happened to Shane O'Farrell as just a tragedy - and it was a tragedy. Undoubtedly, there were failings. There were real and profound failings concerning in what has happened. It is impossible to escape the conclusion that if things had been done as they should have done, Shane O'Farrell might still be alive. The things that might have been done include Gridziuska having been brought back to Judge O'Hagan and the appeal having been recorded and reported in the way that it should have been. It is difficult to escape this conclusion.

I note several things from the Minister's statement. I welcome the apology, but it was stated that, "We could spend many years inquiring into these facts - facts that are already known". The Dáil voted for a public inquiry in 2018. The Seanad voted for an inquiry in 2019. That is several years in which much of that work could have been done. I note some of what was said in terms of something new I have not seen before. I refer to whether the authority exists in terms of bail and whether someone can be remanded. I do not at this point have the ability to evaluate whether that is correct. There is no doubt, however, that the system as a whole profoundly failed, and it is hard not to see a pattern. The Minister has recognised this in the past.

I hope that this will not be the end of it. I welcome the scholarship and the changes in legislation, but the truth still needs to be established. I ask the Minister to consider this further. I again commend the O'Farrell family and extend my thoughts to them for everything they have been through.

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