Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 1049: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the consideration that has been given to the Terence Wheelock inquiry issue since the split decision of the inquest jury; if the evidence gathered by the independent experts arranged by the family will be given careful consideration with a view to a further inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20737/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have considered the tragic circumstances of the death of Terence Wheelock and my consideration was further informed by the verdict of the Inquest jury on 13 July of this year. In so far as the inquest is concerned, I am clear that a Coroner's inquest is a statutorily independent inquisitorial process and, that even if all of the information relevant to the jury's determination were available to me, I could not attempt to look behind its verdict for any purpose.

Nonetheless I am pleased to say that the Chairman of Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has informed me that they have decided in the public interest to carry out an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Wheelock.

The capacity for independent investigation in the public interest of such tragic deaths was a key objective in the establishment of the Ombudsman Commission and I believe that the Commission must now be left to carry out its independent investigation as speedily and thoroughly as possible.