Pringle calls for public inquiry into death of Shane O’Farrell

By Thomas Pringle
Updated: 23rd October 2023

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has called on the Justice Minister to hold a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shane O’Farrell.

Addressing the Dáil on Tuesday, Deputy Pringle said: “It is absolutely devastating that the O’Farrell family has been forced to continue this fight against the State to get the answers they need over the last 12 years, since Shane’s untimely death in 2011. Unfortunately, I think their fight will have to continue after this scoping report.”

He said: “It is unacceptable that they have to do this, and that despite being raised so many times in this House, we still have not received the answers they are so desperately looking for.”

The deputy was speaking during Statements on the final report on the independent scoping exercise into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Shane O’Farrell. He welcomed Mr O’Farrell’s family, who were in the public gallery, to the Dáil debate.

The deputy said: “All the O’Farrell family are looking for is answers, but it seems their questions are exposing some very troubling truths that the State would rather not bring attention to.” The deputy said the scoping exercise “failed to uncover thorough or factual answers to very vital questions relating to Shane’s death and there are very serious issues regarding breaches of bail in this case as well.”

The deputy said: “It is clear that reviews by GSOC, the Independent Review Mechanism and the Courts Service into the incident did not go far enough and present more questions than answers. The Section 103 GSOC report is completely unsatisfactory and contains many mistakes, inaccuracies and omissions.

“The fact that this has not been acted upon is extremely concerning and raises many serious questions regarding GSOC reporting,” he said.

The deputy said the case also highlights some very concerning failures in Court Service practices and procedures. He said: “Despite the Courts Service recognising this, they do not address the fact that decisions were made in part on the basis of incorrect information on the official record regarding convictions and sentences.

“The scoping exercise report does not explain why Zigimantas Gridziuska was at liberty, after having committed in excess of 30 offences while on bail from various district and circuit courts, for almost two years before the incident in 2011.”

Deputy Pringle said that at the time of the incident, as well as being on bail and in breach of bail conditions, Zigimantas Gridziuska had received two prison sentences that were never served.

The deputy said: “This was not addressed in the scoping exercise report. This raises crucial questions on various aspects of the criminal justice system, including the functioning of bail and the potential use of Garda informers.

“I have continuously raised my concerns with the justice system in this country. It’s clear that the justice system is in urgent need of reform.”

He said he was reminded of a comment he heard in relation to the McBrearty case, that “the purpose of the State is to make sure that the questions about McBrearty stay in Donegal. And I think this is a perfect example.

“The State has to make sure that the questions about the treatment of the O’Farrell family stay in Monaghan, because we don’t want to admit that this could be going out right across the country. And I wonder what the bail system is like in Donegal, or in Tipperary, or in Cork, or in Kerry, because if it’s anything like the bail system in Monaghan we are being failed and let down every day in this State.

“It’s incumbent on you, Minister, to address this and to have a public inquiry to ensure this doesn’t stay in Monaghan, that it goes across the whole country and we see changes come to light from it.”