The sister of one of the victims in the Grangegorman murders has said she is "extremely upset" that she has never received an official explanation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and charging of an innocent man for the killings.
Following the disclosure yesterday that the Garda is to issue a public apology to the family of Dean Lyons, a drug addict who was charged with the 1997 murders of Sylvia Sheils and Mary Callinan, Ms Sheil's family said they had yet to receive any explanation as to why nobody had been charged with or convicted of the murder.
Lyons, who died four years ago, was arrested shortly after the murders in the summer of 1996 and charged with both killings. It subsequently transpired that Lyons had made a false confession.
Following his release in 1998, there has never been any arrest or charge brought in relation to the case, although convicted double murderer Mark Nash has been identified by the State in other court proceedings as a suspect.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is not expected to prosecute Nash, however, as the confession of Lyons cannot be refuted because he is dead.
Yesterday Mr Michael Finucane, the solicitor representing Ms Stella Nolan, a sister of Sylvia Sheils, said he had written to the Minister for Justice demanding a full inquiry into the affair.
"Stella Nolan is extremely angry and upset that she has received neither apology nor explanation for the circumstances surrounding the investigation into the murder of her sister and the failure of the gardaí and the State to prosecute her killer," Mr Finucane said.
"While Mrs Nolan is very pleased for the family of Dean Lyons that they are to receive an apology from the gardaí over the treatment of their son, it serves only to highlight her sense of being abandoned by the so-called 'forces of law and order'."
Ms Nolan had been "given nothing by the State to atone for the horrific murder of her sister and the complete failure of the gardaí to apprehend the person responsible . . .
"The suspicion that arises from this case is that, not only were two women brutally murdered, but the procurement of a highly controversial confession and charging of an innocent man by the gardaí and the DPP make it impossible to prosecute the guilty party. Stella Nolan is entitled to no less satisfaction than the Lyons family."
Ms Nolan's call for a public inquiry was backed by Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte, who has raised the case in the Dáil on several occasions, calling for an inquiry into how Lyons signed the statement. Labour also called for the publication of internal Garda inquiries on the case.
A spokeswoman for Mr McDowell yesterday said the Minister was satisfied there was no need for a public inquiry.