Brendan Smith Demands Full Inquiry into Shane O'Farrell Death
Brendan Smith spoke in the Dáil about the death of Shane O'Farrell and urged an adequate investigation and a proper inquiry. He argued the current Terms of Reference are too limited and called for adoption of those drafted by Judge Hawking to get the full facts.
Call for full inquiry
Brendan Smith said the motion before the House merits the approval of Dáil Eireann and reiterated support for the terms of reference outlined by Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. He urged that the Terms of Reference drafted by Judge Hawking should be adopted so the State can establish the full facts surrounding Shane's death.
Condolences and community response
He conveyed sincere sympathy to the O'Farrell family, describing Shane as a much-loved son and brother and a highly respected member of his local community. He noted the esteem in which the family is held in Carrick-McCross, South Monaghan and adjoining counties, and praised the family's dignity and tenacity in seeking answers.
Details of the incident and failures cited
Brendan Smith described the death as the loss of a 23-year-old cyclist in a hit-and-run close to his home and called it awful and preventable. He argued the State's investigation, prosecution and handling of the family's complaints have failed the O'Farrell family and warned that limiting the Terms of Reference would allow that failure to continue.
Cross-border policing and scoping concerns
He recalled earlier calls for improved cross-border policing strategies and better sharing of information between criminal justice systems North and South. He said the scoping exercise should not be undermined and that curtailing the Terms of Reference is not acceptable if the State is to uncover dysfunctionality in parts of the criminal justice system.
Accountability and next steps
Brendan Smith emphasised that the driver who caused Shane's death should not have been at liberty if the criminal justice system had been functioning properly. He commended the O'Farrell family's courageous campaign for justice and said the motion seeks to prevent limitations that would stop the State from getting all the truth.
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Our party spokesperson, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, outlined very clearly again this evening the absolute need to have an adequate investigation and proper inquiry into the death of Shane O'Farrell. The motion before this House merits the approval of Dail Eireann. I take this opportunity to convey again my sincere sympathy to the O'Farrell family on the tragic loss of Shane, their son and brother. Shane's passing is an immeasurable loss to his beloved family. As well as being a much-loved son and brother, Shane was a highly respected member of his local community. I know very well that the community in the wider Carrick-McCross and South Monaghan area and in adjoining counties hold the O'Farrell family in the highest esteem. It is also a source of great regret in South Monaghan and adjoining areas that a young man of Shane's standing and outstanding ability lost his young life in such awful and indeed preventable circumstances. Unfortunately, the O'Farrell family has been failed by this state and that failure continues today. I was glad to be able to contribute to the previous Fianna Fáil private member's motion on this issue of such importance. Not just to the O'Farrell family, but also to all of us who want to see our criminal justice system do justice to every family and individual in our state. Every right-thinking person wants justice to be done and the terms of reference as outlined so coherently and referenced by Deputy Jim O'Cannon are, I believe, essential to get to the truth. It is truly shocking that it is taking so long to get to the truth in relation to the death of a 23-year-old cyclist in a hit-and-run accident quite close to his own home. Colleagues, Deputy Jim O'Callan and Deputy Niall Collins and other members of the House, spoke earlier of the great dignity of the O'Farrell family in their campaign in pursuing justice for their son, Shane. I have heard Shane's mother, Lucia, speak on national radio and on our local radio in Cavan, Monaghan, Loud and Mead and she has always spoke so eloquently and with such dignity on the awful tragedy that has beset that family and their quest for the truth. That campaign has been courageous and tenacious and has indeed commanded the attention, interest, sympathy and empathy of people throughout all of our island. In the previous private member's motion, we spoke about the need for proper cross-border policing strategies and the appropriate sharing of information between the criminal justice systems, North and South. None of us want to see tragedies in the future arising from the dysfunctionality of systems. It is deplorable that such a series of incidents were permitted causing the death of such a fine young man, son and brother. It is essential as outlined so eloquently and in such detail by Deputy Jim O'Callaghan and indeed by my colleague Deputy Niall Collins as well, that the Terms of Reference as drafted by Judge Hawking should be adopted. The Terms of Reference as they currently stand do not reflect the spirit of the earlier Dáil vote. Those Terms of Reference would not enable this State to get the full facts in relation to the dysfunctionality of some elements of our criminal justice system. The work of the O'Farrell family has been tireless in seeking justice for Shane. The State's investigation into Shane's death has failed the family. Similarly, similarly with the prosecution and also the handling of the family's complaints. This failure will continue if these Terms of Reference are limited. As you'll ask in Corle, curtailing the Terms of Reference is not acceptable. The scoping exercise process should not be undermined and that's what our motion seeks to prevent. As we know, the driver who caused Shane's death should not have been at liberty if the criminal justice system had been functioning properly. That's the sad summation of the entire tragedy surrounding Shane's loss of life. Again, I take the opportunity to commend the O'Farrell family on the great dignity, perseverance and tenacity that they have shown in seeking justice and seeking the truth, all the truth, in relation to the awful and indeed preventable death of their loved Shane. Goeibh mīna māthu gud alhās k'n cōrlā.
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