Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 623: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department or An Garda Síochána were in contact with their northern counterparts following the murder of a person (details supplied). [26613/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 624: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has received a request from the Department of Foreign Affairs for documents relating to the murder of a person (details supplied); the reason this request has not been replied to; and if a reply will issue. [26614/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 625: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if official files or documents exist within his Department or An Garda Síochána relating to the murder of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26615/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 626: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will acknowledge the sense of hurt and abandonment felt by persons (details supplied) at the apparent inaction of their Government following a murder. [26616/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 623 to 626, inclusive, together.

My Department was first contacted about this matter in June 2005. A request for information from the Pat Finucane Centre was transmitted to my Department via the Department of Foreign Affairs. Officials of my Department, in turn, passed this request to An Garda Síochána, and a comprehensive record search was conducted in Garda Headquarters and in Donegal Garda Division.

In October 2005, my Department informed the Department of Foreign Affairs, for onward transmission to the Pat Finucane Centre, that no records existed to indicate that An Garda Síochána had any involvement in the murder investigation in question. I understand also that there is no record of contact with the then RUC at the time. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the murder was committed outside this jurisdiction. Similarly, there are no contemporaneous records within my own Department in relation to this incident.

My Department also informed the Department of Foreign Affairs, again for onward transmission to the Pat Finucane Centre, that enquiries had been made by An Garda Síochána of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which indicated that no-one had been made amenable for the murder and that the case now forms part of the series of investigations being undertaken by its Historical Enquiries Team.

The family of the person in question, in common with all the families who have suffered bereavement as a result of the conflict in Northern Ireland, have my deep sympathy for their loss.

As with so many others who lost their lives, the perpetrators of this crime have not been made amenable to the courts in Northern Ireland. I hope that the Historical Enquiries Team, which will be re-examining the case, is successful in dealing with the unanswered questions which endure in this matter.