Public 'sold a pup' regarding Toscan du Plantier murderer

SEANAD REPORT:THE PUBLIC had been sold a pup by being given a false impression that "the gardaí, so to speak, had their man" in relation to the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in west Cork just over 15 years ago, Denis O'Donovan (FF) said.

The reality was that a vicious murderer was still at large. He wanted to know why it was coming out only now that “they had not got their man”. Issues such as this must be addressed.

Referring to the Supreme Court determination of the Ian Bailey extradition case, Mr O’Donovan said he welcomed the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission’s decision to seek a further report into the activity of gardaí involved in the case.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter should comment on why a direction by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), more than 10 years ago, about there being insufficient evidence to prosecute had been left in abeyance, he said.

There seemed to be a major issue as to whether the European arrest warrant was appropriate, yet the State and Department of Justice had been willing to act on it. Had it not been for the DPP’s intervention and information being made available, the Supreme Court would have been left in the dark. Mr O’Donovan said he lived in the area and locals wondered at the disregard for the public’s views by the DPP and various ministers.

The report by the ombudsman dealt with only one aspect of this unusual and perhaps ground-breaking case, he said. Mr Shatter must take responsibility for the arrest warrant situation.

Colm Burke (FG) said it was important to bear in mind that it was the Attorney General and the Minister who had released the papers to Mr Bailey’s solicitors.

Meanwhile, Darragh O’Brien, Fianna Fáil leader in the House, said the Protestant community in Ireland felt under attack by the Government. It was sad to hear the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev Michael Jackson, state his community felt they were under a creeping threat.

Sixty-five per cent of Church of Ireland schools were affected by government cuts in the small schools area. We were coming up to the centenary of the 1916 Rising, and the Government had said it was trying to build a new Republic. A real republic should respect its minorities and ensure that they flourish.

Mary White (FF) was given leave to introduce her Bill seeking to outlaw compulsory retirement at 65 years of age.