TheJournal.ie

A DECISION THAT there is to be no fresh inquiry into the death of a priest 30 years ago has been backed up by a government review.

The DPP previously decided, following a review by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team, that there would be no further charges brought into the death of Fr Niall Molloy in 1985.

Today, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald published a report into that review by Dominic McGinn SC. It backed up that no further inquiry would be warranted.

Fr Molloy was found dead in the home of his friends Therese Flynn and her husband Richard in Clara, Co Offaly in July 1985.

Investigation

Gardaí investigating the death found evidence of violence in the couple’s bedroom, where Molloy had been found, and pools of blood on the ground – leading to the arrest of Richard Flynn who was charged with manslaughter.

His controversial trial saw the judge direct the jury to find the defendant not guilty – only four hours after the trial began – when the defence counsel suggested that Fr Molloy could have died from a heart attack or of other natural causes.

McGinn’s report published today outlines that the “precise events surrounding Father Molloy’s death cannot now be ascertained”.

This is due to a number of reasons including, “the death of many of the pertinent witnesses, and the reluctance of others to give evidence”.

Unanswered questions

The review acknowledges that “unanswered questions do remain” but finds that they would likely not be answered by further investigation.

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