Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday, I attended the Dáil Chamber, where an apology on behalf of the State was made by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, to the family of the late Shane O'Farrell, who lost his life tragically on 2 August 2011. He was 21 years old and a very successful young man. He was very sporting and very academic and was doing a master's degree in law. His life was cut short as a result of a traffic accident in which a motorist who had more than 30 previous convictions cleaned Shane out of it outside Carrickmacross while he was on his bicycle. Yesterday was a tough and very emotional day in the Dáil Chamber for the O'Farrell family. Shane's parents have had many tough days since their son's life, a life that promised so much, was tragically cut short and taken away.

As I said, yesterday was a very tough day for them, following on from the many tough days they have had since they lost their son. However, I was delighted the family got their apology yesterday on behalf of the State. They have been knocking on the State's door looking for answers since 2011. That door has been closed but, yesterday, it was opened by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. I salute him for that. I pay exceptional credit to Lucia O'Farrell, her husband, Jim, and their four daughters. Lucia O'Farrell does not know what the word "no" means. She took on the State and beat it. If one lesson comes out of this, it is what determination and not accepting "no" for an answer can achieve. I salute Lucia and Jim and their four girls for the work they put in to get to this point. I hope the State will learn the lesson that no family should have to go through what the O'Farrell went through to get to where they got to yesterday.