10th Jan 2012
Commissioner Callinan,
Garda H Q
Phoenix Park
Dear Commissioner Callinan,
Three weeks ago, the Irish Independent contacted your press office regarding extremely grave claims about the murder of my uncle Fr Niall Molloy (Clara, Co Offaly, 08/07/1985) made by crime reporter Paul Williams.
In his new book Badfellas, he states that the Gardai did a deal with convicted criminal John Traynor to drop charges against him after he returned the Garda file on my uncle’s case.
This was because, as Mr Williams states, the file contained notes and statements that certain people in power did not want in the public domain. To date, you have failed to furnish the Irish Independent with a response, as is the case with all of the queries that newspaper has sent to you regarding your force’s handling of this appalling case.
So on behalf of my entire family and my late uncle, I am now calling on you to answer these charges against the Garda Siochána.
Is it the case that the country’s leading crime reporter, Penguin Ireland, and his legal team have got it wrong when they cast such shameful allegations on your police force? Or does their theory explain why almost 27 years on, your organisation has failed to bring those responsible for our uncle’s brutal murder to justice?
We also wish to express our utter dissatisfaction at the year-long ‘examination’ of this case by the Serious Crime Review Unit, and the fact that vital evidence has still not been obtained by Det Supt Christy Mangan and his team. We had a most disappointing meeting with him in November which left us with a distinct impression that the Gardai had no intention of pursuing the case with any sense of speed, professionalism or determination.
You must be aware that this case refuses to go away and for good reason. Until such time as both justice and the truth are delivered to our family, it will not.
We, and most importantly, our beloved uncle Niall who was brutally beaten to death, have been utterly failed by the Irish Criminal Justice system.I’m sure you would want your legacy to be one in which all of the victims of homicide and the bereaved families of Ireland were treated with equality and dignity under your watch.
We hope that under your watch, our basic right to justice will finally be granted. After all, it is nothing more than we deserve.
We look forward to meeting you, at your earlier convenience, to discuss the matters I have mentioned above.
Yours Sincerely,
Bill Maher.
1st February 2012
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan
An Garda Siochana,
Phoenix Park,
Dublin 8.
Dear Commissioner Callinan,
Re: Murder of Reverend Father Niall Molloy C.C., late
of Castlecoote, Co. Roscommon on 8th of July 1985.
I refer to my letter of the 10th of January last in relation to this matter, a copy of which
I attach hereto.
I am most disappointed that I have not heard from you in response, specifically in
response to the allegation contained in the book recently released by Paul Williams to
the effect that An Garda Siochana reached an agreement with well known criminal
John Traynor not to prosecute him in return for the safe return of the Garda file on my
uncle’s murder so as to prevent certain details of the file getting into the public
domain.
This clearly is a very serious allegation which goes to the very root of the matter and
calls into question the entire process surrounding this appalling tragic case.
I understand that Messrs. Mantons, Solicitors, Fethard, Co. Tipperary have recently
received correspondence from Detective Garda Malachy Dunne of the National
Bureau of Criminal Investigation seeking an update on the extraction of a De Bonis
Non Grant of Administration in the estate of Father Molloy, to which I understand
Messrs. Mantons have responded suitably.
Please note that I have written to Mr. Alan Shatter T.D. Minister for Justice and Law
Reform seeking a Commission of Investigation into this entire matter, and I do not
intend to enter into any further correspondence whatsoever with An Garda Siochana
until at the very least the above mentioned allegation has been formally denied by the
Gardai.
Kindly note.
Yours sincerely,
Bill Maher.
6th. September 2012
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan
An Garda Siochana,
Phoenix Park,
Dublin 8.
Dear Commissioner Callinan,
Re: Murder of Reverend Father Niall Molloy C.C., late
of Castlecoote, Co. Roscommon on 8th of July 1985.
I refer to my letters of the of January 10th and February 1st. 2012 , neither of which have been replied to. In addition I have made three telephone calls to your Office.
I am disappointed that you have not responded, to the allegation contained in the book released by Paul Williams to the effect that An Garda Siochana reached an agreement with well known criminal John Traynor not to prosecute him in return for the safe return of the Garda file on my uncle’s murder so as to prevent certain details of the file getting into the public domain.
In my last telephone call to your office I was informed that you were waiting for a report on the matter from operational staff. However in a recent meeting with Detective Superintendent Paadric Kennedy he made it quite clear that he could make no comment on the allegation and it was a matter for the Commissioner.
I have been informed that a full report has been finialised and submitted to you some weeks ago.
My family have waited 27 years for action on my Uncle’s Murder and we don’t understand why ,in the light of new evidence and Medical reports, that there seems to be no sense of urgency in dealing with this matter
Yours sincerely,
Bill Maher.
My Email 21/ May/ 2013
Dear Commissioner Callinan,
I sent this email to you over a week ago. To date I have not received either a reply or the courtesy of an acknowledgement.
Dear Sirs,
In a reply to a question in the Dáil yesterday, from Finian McGrath T.D., Minister Shatter replied “I understand that the officers carrying out the examination are continuing to keep the family members of the deceased updated on progress.”The Minister is mistaken, this is not the case. We are NOT being kept up to date on progress in the case.Regards,Bill MaherNephew of Fr.Niall Molloy
My email sent 14 / 8 / 2013
Dear Commissioner Callinan,