Sinn Féin TD for Cavan Monaghan, Matt Carthy, has confirmed that he will move a Dáil motion calling on government to finally implement the Oireachtas resolutions which called for the establishment of an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shane O’Farrell, and the actions of state agencies before and after his killing.

Speaking this morning, Teachta Carthy said:

“Shane O’Farrell, a 23-year-old Carrickmacross man, was killed in a hit and run on 2nd August 2011 by Zigimantas Gridziuska, a known criminal who had breached several bail conditions at the time and had multiple previous convictions in three different jurisdictions.

“Serious questions have been raised regarding Garda interactions with Gridziuska and various decisions of several state bodies, including the courts and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“In 2018, the Dáil supported a motion calling for the establishment of a public inquiry. Instead, the then government organised a scoping exercise by former Judge Gerard Haughton. The family of Shane O’Farrell believe the report of that exercise to be incomplete and inaccurate.

“Crucially, the scoping exercise report did not explain failings in the justice system that allowed Zigimantas Gridziuska to repeatedly breach bail conditions and court orders without consequence, the failure to execute warrants; and it did not explain why or how he was at liberty to kill when he should have been in custody.

“Shane O’Farrell was failed by the state. The person who killed him should have been imprisoned at the time of his killing.

“Shane’s family have been failed by the state at every juncture since.

“Now is the time for the prevarication and delays to stop. The full facts of this case must be told.

“Sinn Féin will be using our Private Members time in the Dáil on Tuesday to bring forward a motion, co-signed by numerous other opposition TDs, which calls on government to implement the previous resolutions of the Dáil and Seanad and to immediately establish an Independent Public Inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell and the actions of State agencies before and after his death in respect of this case.

“The 2018 Dáil motion was introduced by Fianna Fáil. I expect that they, and their government partners, will now support this resolution and, more importantly, ensure that it is enacted.

“There have been enough delaying mechanisms. The questions that this case has raised are too important to ignore.”