The mother of a young man, who was killed in a hit and run in Co. Monaghan, says her son deserves justice.
23 year old Shane O’Farrell was out cycling near Carrickmacross when he was knocked down seven years ago.
There are calls for a public inquiry into the death of the law student in Monaghan in 2011. The driver was on bail for a number of offences at the time –mainly heroin possession and theft.
It later emerged that the driver – Lithuanian national Zigimantas Gridziuska – was on bail for a number of offences.
The O’Farrell family has been involved in a long campaign for justice in the years since. Mr Gridziuska was on bail for offences including heroin possession, theft and handling stolen goods.
Shane’s mother Lucia wants a public inquiry into the garda handling of the case.
“Shane was our only son; he was deeply loved and is deeply loved,” she said. “He had thousands of friends; everyone loved Shane.
“His friends and their parents loved Shane; neighbours loved Shane; Shane was just a very popular guy.
“It would be a massive betrayal to Shane not to do what we are doing.
“He deserves accountability. he deserves people to be held to account for their failure to him.”
Garda Ombudsman issue a clarification on update report into the investigation into the death of the late Shane O’Farrell:
The investigation into complaints made to GSOC by the family of the late Shane O’Farrell is ongoing. The report provided to the O’Farrell family was pursuant to s.103 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 by way of an update at the completion of one phase of the investigative process.
Under the present legislative framework GSOC is unable to conduct criminal and disciplinary investigations at the same time.
The first phase of the investigations into six complaints containing 56 allegations of alleged misbehaviour found no criminal culpability in relation to any of the gardaí complained of. However the process has now moved into a disciplinary investigation in relation to some of the gardaí.
As GSOC is conscious that all parties, including gardaí under investigation, have rights, we are not jeopardising the ongoing disciplinary investigation by naming persons who have the right to be heard and offer an explanation for the conduct under investigation.
When the investigation is completed a report will be forwarded to the Garda Commissioner under s.97 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. It will be open then for the Garda Commissioner to consider what action, if any, he thinks appropriate under the Garda Discipline Regulations.
