THE family of a cyclist who was killed in a hit-and-run crash said they have “a lot of questions still outstanding” after meeting the Justice Minister.
On August 2 2011, 23-year-old law graduate Shane O’Farrell was cycling home when he was struck by a car in the Carrickmacross area of Co Monaghan.
Shane O’Farrell’s parents Lucia and Jim and sisters Hannah, Gemma, Aimee and Pia[/caption]
The driver of the car, Zigimantas Gradzuiska, failed to remain at the scene.
The Lithuanian national had a number of previous convictions including for theft and drugs offences.
The Dail has heard that the day he struck Mr O’Farrell, Gradzuiska should have been in jail for breaches of bail conditions that were applied to him at the time.
He was also serving a number of suspended sentences and there had been numerous warrants for his arrest which had not been executed.
The Dail has also heard that the Garda Drug Squad stopped the car approximately one hour before the collision.
Mr O’Farrell’s family have been calling for a public inquiry into the circumstances of his death and why Gradzuiska had not been in jail.
That call was supported by Fianna Fail TD Jim O’Callaghan while he was in opposition.
Mr O’Callaghan, who has since become Minister for Justice, told the Dail earlier this week that he cannot now ignore that a scoping exercise into Mr O’Farrell’s death recommended that there should be no further public inquiry.
He said he was open to referring the matter to the Oireachtas justice committee, which has yet to be established amid the ongoing speaking rights row.
Shane’s sister Gemma O’Farrell said: “It feels like an unnecessary delay and kicking it into another process.
“We’ve had 13 years of various investigations and inquiries and at this stage we’ve exhausted all of them so I really would hope that the minister would do the right thing and order an inquiry.”
She said “lots of unanswered questions” remain about Gradzuiska’s interactions with gardai and the justice system despite the completion of the scoping report.
She added: “I think we deserve answers to those questions, and most importantly, Shane does.”
The family says the case has broader public interest factors around public safety, warrants, suspended sentences and bail.
Mum Lucia O’Farrell said: “There were warrants out that weren’t executed until after Shane was killed.
“He had committed 30 offences while on bail – our child lies in the grave.
“So we need answers and we’re entitled to answers.”
The Department of Justice said Mr O’Callaghan had “a very engaging meeting with the O’Farrell family”.
Department chiefs added: “He listened to their views and will now take time to consider the matter further.”
