The legal team representing a woman who claims she gave birth to two children as a result of sexual abuse in south Dublin in the 1970s are to meet Department of Justice officials to outline their dissatisfaction with the Garda investigation into her claims.
Cynthia Owen has been requesting a meeting with Minister for Justice Michael McDowell since the recent decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to take any criminal proceedings in relation to the death of an infant she claims was her daughter 33 years ago.
Gerry Dunne of O'Brien Dunne solicitors told The Irish Times that his legal team will meet Department of Justice officials on Wednesday to discuss setting up an inquiry into the Garda investigation dating back to the 1970s and up to the present day.
Eleven years ago, Ms Owen came forward claiming to be the mother of a baby girl whose body was discovered in a plastic bag in Dún Laoghaire in 1973. The infant had been stabbed to death.
She said the baby was one of two to whom she gave birth at a young age as a result of sexual abuse during the 1970s when she was living in Dalkey. She claimed the other infant was buried in the back garden of her family home. A Garda search last summer did not uncover any remains.
At the meeting, Mr Dunne and his team will hand over a dossier to the officials outlining "specific concerns in relation to the Garda handling of the inquiry. We are seeking an inquiry into how the gardaí handled everything as far back as the 1970s."
Mr Dunne said that he hoped the meeting was the first step towards setting up an inquiry into the Garda handling of the investigation and a meeting with the Minister for Justice. One of the issues that would be raised included their dissatisfaction with the Garda search last year of the back garden where Ms Owen formerly lived in Dalkey.
A Garda file was sent to the DPP following the allegations but no prosecution was directed in June. The inquest into the baby's death was reopened last September after legal representations on behalf of Ms Owen.
On June 6th, the Dublin County Coroner requested an exhumation of the remains from the communal Little Angels plot in Glasnevin Cemetery. Mr McDowell rejected the request.
The inquest into the infant buried at Glasnevin cemetery will resume on November 9th.
Some 1,500 people have signed a petition set up by Ms Owen calling for Mr McDowell to set up an inquiry into the events she claims occurred in the 1970s. Those interested in signing the petition can call 086-305 2970 for details.