Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the execution of Tipperary man Mr. Harry Gleeson for a gruesome murder. In the intervening years, much analysis and research has been carried out on the case. Mr. Marcus de Búrca did a masterly job of dissecting the case in his book. He showed a litany of false procedures, evidence that was tempered with and local conspiracies. A recent television programme upholds the points put forward by Mr. de Búrca. The legal people involved in that said there is a need for the State to re-examine the case and offer a pardon to Harry Gleeson, as late as it may be. Justice delayed is justice denied. We owe a debt of gratitude to people like Mr. Marcus de Búrca and TG4 for taking cases such as this and arguing the need to revisit them. Throughout his life until the very end, Mr. Sean MacBride contended that Harry Gleeson was innocent and the victim of a miscarriage of justice. His solicitor, Mr. Timoney, said that in the final moments before his execution, Harry Gleeson said that he was an innocent man and hoped that sometime in the future someone would take up his case and the real culprit would be found. I ask the Leader to take up this matter with the Minister for Justice and Law Reform and appoint a High Court judge to examine the case. Having looked at it, there is no doubt in my mind and there is no doubt locally that Harry Gleeson was an innocent man. Some 70 years later, it would be wrong not to use the opportunity to clear his name. It is good for society and it would be good for justice.