Full inquiry urged into SF councillor's murder

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called for a full public inquiry into the murder of Donegal SF councillor Eddie Fullerton at his home in May 1991.

Mr Ó Caoláin claimed that one of the most worrying aspects of the murder was the way in which it was investigated by gardaí in Donegal. He asked Taoiseach Bertie Ahern if he was aware that Mr Fullerton's personal belongings had still not been returned to the family.

"Those belongings were taken from Cllr Fullerton's home. Fifteen years later, does the Taoiseach agree that it is strange, and that this and many other aspects of the Garda investigation of the time give the Fullerton family the sense that it was they and their father who were under investigation and not those responsible for his murder who were being pursued?"

Mr Ó Caoláin claimed that Mr Fullerton's murder mirrored many of those investigated by Mr Justice Barron and which had been exposed by an Oireachtas sub-committee in its most recent series of reports. This followed on from the work of Mr Justice Barron, and the late Mr Justice Hamilton, and demonstrated collusion between British crown forces and loyalist paramilitaries.

The murder indicated a sophistication and a training which presumably could only have been available to those who had been trained very likely by the British crown forces in the North.

Mr Ahern said a submission had been accepted from the Fullerton family at a meeting.

"They gave me an oral presentation of the facts, and they have also been communicating with my officials. We have taken their submission in its entirety, which includes all the points the deputy raised, and I have written to the Tánaiste [Michael McDowell] and his officials, who were also at the meeting with me, asking that they further examine all the concerns of the Fullerton family."

Mr Ahern said he understood that the Garda review was nearly completed. "This is an extensive review led by a chief superintendent."