Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an outside counsel has been appointed to examine the papers in the Grangegorman murder case with a view to determining the way in which a person (details supplied) came to make a confession to these crimes while in Garda custody; if the terms of reference for the review have been finalised; when the process will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21470/05]

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he intends to proceed with the examination of the files on the Grangegorman murders. [21475/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 61 together.

Mr Shane Murphy, SC, has agreed to conduct a review of the Garda Síochana papers relating to the making by the late Mr. Dean Lyons of false inculpatory statements in the course of the Garda investigation into the murders of Mary Callinan and Sylvia Shiels at Grangegorman on 6 and 7 March 1997.

Mr Murphy's terms of reference are as follows:

1. To conduct an independent review and undertake a thorough examination of the Garda Síochána papers relating to the making by Mr. Dean Lyons of false inculpatory statements in the course of the Garda investigation into the murders of Mary Callinan and Sylvia Shiels on 6 and 7 March 1997

(a) with a view to identifying an appropriate means of establishing how he came to make those statements;

2. To make recommendations on

(a) actions to be taken and procedures to be put in place with the aim of preventing similar statements being made again in the future, taking into account Garda Síochána procedures in place at the time to ensure that its duty of care to vulnerable individuals under investigation was fulfilled and any subsequent changes to those procedures;

(b) and any further actions to be taken on foot of the recommendations of the review;

3. And, in this regard, to submit a report to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as soon as possible.

I have asked Mr Murphy to complete his review as a matter of urgency.