26  August, 2016

Dear Mr. McCourt,

I  have  been  asked by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality,
Ms.  Frances Fitzgerald T.D., to refer to her meeting with you and Mr. Bill
Maher  on 1 July 2015, the matters outlined in the documents which you gave
to her at the meeting and in your subsequent correspondence.

In  the  first instance, I should say that it is a matter of regret that it
did  not  prove  possible  to  issue  a definitive response until now.   Of
course,  the  papers  submitted  by  you  had  to  be fully reviewed by the
Tánaiste  since  originally  submitted and she wanted to take the time that
was  necessary to fully consider all of the matters raised in light of your
strong  concerns.   Moreover,  you  will  appreciate  that  in the interim,
events, relating to other pressing matters, placed very significant demands
on the Tánaiste’s time.

The  Tánaiste  would  like,  once  again,  to  acknowledge the very sincere
support  which many people have conveyed to you and your family in relation
to the death of your uncle, Fr. Molloy, and the extent of the efforts which
have  been  made over many years to obtain answers to the various questions
which have been raised about the case.

The  Tánaiste has reflected on the issues discussed with you at the meeting
and  as referred to in the documentation supplied and sympathises with you.
However,  the  detailed  examination by the SCRT of the case, together with
Mr.  McGinn’s  subsequent  report,  lead  her  to conclude that there is no
reasonable  prospect  that  a  further  inquiry  would  give  rise  to more
conclusive  results.   The  objective  expressed  in  Mr. McGinn’s terms of
reference  was to obtain definitive independent advice on the question of a
further inquiry and having received such advice, it would be highly unusual
for the Tánaiste not to take it on board.

The  Tánaiste  has also considered your comments on the shortcomings of the
original  Garda  investigation but as you note in your documentation, these
have  been  highlighted  by  the  SCRT  and  were  outlined  and  carefully
considered  by Mr. McGinn in arriving at his recommendations concerning any
further  inquiry. While the Tánaiste fully appreciates your dissatisfaction
with these aspects of the original investigation, she does not believe that
a  further  inquiry  to  examine  these specific matters would be viable or
warranted  at  this  remove.  As  stated  in  previous  correspondence, the
Tánaiste  is of the view that a further inquiry would most likely come to a
similar assessment in relation to the original Garda investigation and such
an  assessment  is  already  available  and in the public domain.  In these
circumstances,  and  given  the  passage  of  time  and  the  evolution  of
investigatory  practice  since then, the establishment of a further inquiry
into these matters would not be of material public benefit.

The  Tánaiste  is  very much aware that unanswered questions in relation to
the  case  remain and are of course a cause of concern for the family.  She
sympathises  with your desire to see further steps taken in relation to the
investigation  but, as you know, the case has been considered by the DPP on
foot  of  the  SCRT  report  and  a  direction received that there not be a
further  prosecution.   The  Tánaiste  has  no role in that process, but by
publishing  Mr.  McGinn’s report has taken exceptional measures to put into
the public domain as much information as possible in relation to a criminal
investigation,  and  in  relation  to the steps taken to examine the issues
which have been raised concerning the case over many years.

Having carefully considered the points which you raised at the meeting, and
in  your correspondence, the Tánaiste remains of the view that there are no
further avenues open to her in relation to this matter, and that she is not
in a position to accede to your request to establish a further inquiry into
the case.

Yours sincerely,

Niall Colgan
Private Secretary to the
Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality