Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty has written to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan asking him to establish a public inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell, the 23-year-old cyclist who was knocked off his bicycle in Co Monaghan in 2011.
The driver of the car, Lithuanian Zigimantas Gridziuska, had 42 previous convictions for offences including road traffic offences, possession of heroin and theft and was on bail at the time of the incident.
In her letter of January 31st, Ms Doherty said she was writing to the Minister “regarding a case I know you are well familiar with”.
When in opposition in 2018, Mr O’Callaghan had introduced a Private Member’s motion calling for a fully public inquiry into Mr O’Farrell’s death. It was passed by both the Dáil and the Seanad.
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Seven months before Mr O’Farrell was killed Gridziuska was convicted of theft. The judge in Monaghan adjourned this case for a year to consider whether a custodial sentence was appropriate.
He said if the Lithuanian was convicted of any further frauds or thefts he would be jailed immediately. But in May 2011, when convicted of another theft in Ardee he was not brought back for the court in Monaghan and so was not jailed.
Though he was before different courts a further four times on other matters in the weeks that followed, and breached his bail conditions repeatedly, he remained at liberty and was driving the car that killed Mr O’Farrell in August 2011.
[ Shane O’Farrell killing: family says inquiry terms are too narrowOpens in new window ]
Gridziuska was stopped in his car by gardaí about an hour before the fatal crash and though it was not roadworthy and had no NCT it was not impounded. He was later convicted of leaving the crash scene and given a suspended sentence.
In her letter Ms Doherty wrote: “As you are aware, Shane’s family have long fought for justice, closure and peace following his tragic death. Over 14 years later, despite Garda and Gsoc investigations, Dáil and Seanad Éireann motions and debates, and a scoping exercise report by retired Judge Gerard Haughton, the O’Farrell family’s wish has still not been achieved.”
Ms Doherty, a member of government in 2018 when the Oireachtas backed the inquiry, said in her letter: “I commend your long-time support for the O’Farrell family, and their call for a full public inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell.
“Despite cross-party support for your own Dáil motion, and an acceptance that the outcome of the scoping exercise was far from satisfactory, we have still not commenced this public inquiry.
“The O’Farrell family were correct to call for a public inquiry, you were correct as a member of opposition to call for the same. I respectfully urge you, in your new role, to do what is right for Shane, and deliver for the O’Farrell family; something that has been deprived of them for far too long.
“As Minister, you now have the opportunity to commence an investigation to really determine the full facts of what led up to Shane’s death, and all that has happened and been revealed since. I hope you will take this opportunity as soon as possible, so that the O’Farrell family don’t have to go through another anniversary without closure for their Shane.”
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