Friday afternoon this is an email My cousin Henry and myself were sent from the Department of Justice. We had a meeting with the Minister last year and she promised to get back to us after the summer break. We heard nothing and both of us wrote to the Minister and got not reply. On the 8th of August a letter was sent to the Ombudsman complaining about the Minister’s non response to our meeting and letters. As a result of which the following was received by email. Interesting to see if hard copies will follow
Minister’s Reference: 0718095057
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
CC Mr. Bill Maher
