Inquiry into claim assault on woman ‘not responded to’

Allegations that gardaí and the HSE failed to respond to a reported assault on a woman are being investigated, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has told the Dáil.

“The reports regarding this case are indeed very serious and I am sure that all in the House will agree that they merit the most thorough investigation,’’ she said.

"Apart from the very brutal nature of the reported assault in this case, there are disturbing allegations about a lack of response from State agencies, including An Garda Síochána and the health services.''

The matter was raised in a topical issue debate by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who said it should be followed through so the victim could get justice.

“You only have to look at the photographs her friends took of her….It is horrific…facial damage and damage to the body, a vicious assault,’’ he added.

Ms Fitzgerald thanked Mr Martin for raising the issue, adding that she shared his concern "that the very shocking allegations of sexual assault in 2006, which have been reported in the media, should be properly addressed''.

She said the person in question wrote to her and Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan in late last year. The Commissioner, she said, had reported to her that she had asked the Regional Assistant Commissioner to report on the matter and appoint an inspector to address the issues involved in the case.

A meeting had taken place earlier this month with the victim, said Ms Fitzgerald. She said she would consider what further action might be necessary when she received a further report from the Commissioner.

Ms Fitzgerald said a second issue had also been raised and correspondence forwarded to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

“For the sake of completeness, I should say that there have, in fact, been court proceedings relating to an assault on the person concerned,’’ said the Minister.

“I think it is best that we await a full report setting out the facts as they can be established.’’

She said there were “potentially criminal aspects involved and, obviously, we must do nothing which might impede a criminal investigation’’.

Mr Martin said without the woman’s landlord and her friends, who were in a different town, the matter would not be known about.

“That is frightening, absolutely frightening,’’ he added. “Thanks be to God, there were good people out there who said they would not let the matter rest.’’