‘The O’Farrell family have been let down’ – Cllr
Cavan councillors have welcomed the government apology given to the family of the late Shane O'Farrell (23), and backed their campaign for a public enquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death almost a decade and a half ago.
Mr O'Farrell died after he was struck by a car when cycling near his home in Carrickmacross in 2011.
The body of the law graduate was found nearly 60 yards (54m) from the point of impact. The driver, Zigimantas Gridziuska, had more than 40 convictions at the time, including some in Northern Ireland.
A formal apology was issued by the Republic of Ireland's justice minister Jim O'Callaghan last month, but Independent Ireland's Shane P O'Reilly believes the quest for justice shouldn't end there.
Cllr O'Reilly praised the O'Farrell family, in particular mum Lucia, for their determination. He also commended the ardent effort of local TDs, Fianna Fáil's Brendan Smith and Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy, as well as John McGuinness, in continuing to highlight the case.
“The O'Farrell family have been let down by the State,” said Cllr O'Reilly, adding how Gridziuska, a Lithuanian national who left the scene of the fatal crash, should have been in jail at the time of Mr O'Farrell's death.
The Court Services of Ireland previously said Gridziuska's prison sentences were never served because of what it described as an administrative error.
As part of their long-running campaign, the O'Farrell family have previously travelled to Belfast and Brussels to raise their case in Stormont and the European Parliament.
“It beggars belief,” continued Cllr O'Reilly.
The motion was backed by Sinn Féin's Noel Connell, who said it was troubling for him that files in the case had still “not been handed over”.
Fianna Fáil's John Paul Feeley commended the minister for delivering the apology, noting he had engaged with the O'Farrells prior to taking office.
He said any outstanding information should be brought into the public domain, adding: “Victims are entitled to justice.”
Outgoing Cathaoirleach TP O'Reilly, meanwhile, stated that the apology was “long overdue”.
“A lot of questions still need to be answered. The O'Farrell family have been stonewalled for years.”