Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to request the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come into the House as soon as possible to give a report on the tragic murder of Garda Dick Fallon in 1970. He was the firstgarda killed in over 30 years. He hailed from Mooneen outside Ballagh in County Roscommon, which is outside Roscommon town. During my years in public life it was not brought to my attention until Finian, his son, wrote to The Irish Times and it was raised on "Morning Ireland" the other day.

I am not at this point calling for a public inquiry until I find out from the Minister exactly what is involved in this case — why seven men were named, three men were acquitted for the murder and nobody was convicted for the brutal murder by Saor Éire of Garda Fallon, who was 40 years old. This is serious enough that the Minister should come into the House to explain exactly what has happened, what is on the files, whether they have been suppressed, are in the Department, why the three men were acquitted at the time and why the other members of Saor Éire were not brought before the courts. He was the first garda in 30 years to be murdered defending the State. As a Roscommon man, this case has been badly handled by the State and it is about time there was an account given to this House on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.