Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan will deliver a public apology to the family of hit-and-run victim Shane O’Farrell in the Dáil next Tuesday.
The apology follows almost 14 years of campaigning by the family of the 23-year-old who was killed while out cycling near his home in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, on the 2nd of August 2011.
In a statement issued today to Northern Sound and Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin on RTÉ Radio 1, Shane’s mother, Lucia said, we note Minister O'Callaghan will make an apology to Shane on Tuesday.
"Shane's case raises serious issues about how the criminal justice system works and how it ought to work. “We await the apology on Tuesday."
The driver of the car that killed Mr O’Farrell was Zigimantas Gridziuska who a string of previous convictions, including offences for road traffic incidents, theft and drugs
Gridziuska left the scene before later handing himself into gardaí.
In a lengthy interview with Northern Sound in recent months, Shane’s mother said “the state has let us down”. Moreover, the family said they continue to be let down almost 14 years on.
During that interview, Lucia said to date the state has treated the family appallingly.
Indeed, over the last 14 years, Ms O'Farrell believes her family have been continuously let down by all previous Justice Ministers. Furthermore, she now hopes Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will honour his previous calls.
Minister O'Callaghan has long called for accountability surrounding justice for Shane and his family.
The family have always said that only an independent public inquiry would be accepted.
Next weeks public apology comes following the O’Farrell family meeting with the Justice Minister in March of this year
