Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment our colleagues, Senator John Kelly and Senator John Whelan, and Noel Walsh, personal assistant to Senator John Kelly, for organising a very useful meeting yesterday in the audio visual room on the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of the late Fr. Niall Molloy, who was my local priest in Castlecoote, Fuerty, in 1985. A commitment was given by the then Deputies Pat Rabbitte and Alan Shatter that they would hold an inquiry into this matter if elected to Government. That commitment has not been honoured. I ask the Leader to arrange a discussion in the House with the appropriate Minister to honour a commitment he gave and which impressed the family of the late Fr. Niall Molloy, whose life was cut short at a very early age in Clara, County Offaly, by the alleged murder, and the alleged cover-up of his murder by the State. I compliment the late Veronica Guerin and Ms Gemma O'Doherty, senior feature writer with the Irish Independent, who is pursuing this issue. Justice has not been done for the late Fr. Niall Molloy, who was a man of the highest integrity. He was a priest in the diocese of Elphin who served as chaplain with the Army at home and abroad. His memory, integrity and innocence should be vindicated by this State. The State owes it to him and his family. I attended the meeting yesterday until I was called to a vote in the House at 3 p.m. I also had to attend for a debate with the Minister for Children, Deputy Fitzgerald. Now is the time for an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the case and of the question mark about Judge Frank Roe, the then President of the Circuit Court, taking the case when he knew the families involved.