Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has called for a full independent public enquiry into the handling by Gardaí, the prosecution services and the courts of the events leading up to and following the death of Shane O’Farrell from Carrickmacross in 2011.

His call comes in the wake of an RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme bradcast in December which again looked into the case.  Shane O’Farrell was killed six years ago in a hit-and-run near Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. Carthy has been severely critical of the handling of the case and the treatment of the O’Farrell family by the state.

Matt Carthy said:

“I have, once again, written to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan in relation to the case of Shane O’Farrell to seek a full independent public enquiry into the handling by Gardaí and the entire justice system of the events leading up to and following Shane’s death.

“Shane was cycling home when he was struck by a car driven by a person who had previous convictions for offences including aggravated burglary, road traffic offences and handling stolen property.

“Two weeks before the collision, this person was arrested in Newry for three counts of theft.

“The day this man struck Shane with his car, he was on bail from courts in both Monaghan and Cavan and on a peace bond from Louth Circuit Court.

“On the day that Shane was killed, the car which struck him had been stopped by the Garda drugs unit was deemed not roadworthy and had no NCT. The accused, who was in the passenger side when the car was stopped, assumed the driver’s role in the presence of the Gardai despite not being insured.

“At Shane’s Inquest, the court was told that Gardai at the scene felt that the occupants of the car were in possession of a controlled substance but the car was not searched. Within an hour Shane was killed.

“For six years now, Shane’s family has been asking how a repeat offender on bail from multiple courts, was at liberty on the day Shane was killed. They also want to know why he did not serve jail time for killing their son, and was instead given the option of leaving the country.

“The O’Farrell family have been treated disgracefully by the state. They deserve better than this. All citizens do. The first duty of the state is to protect its citizens. In this case it clearly failed to.

“Shane’s family have made a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) five years ago but are told that investigation is ongoing. The time has come now for a full independentpublic enquiry into this case.  The government should establish one immediately”.

Independent Public Inquiry into death of Shane O’Farrell needed

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