Rogers family seeks inquiry into son's cell death

THE FAMILY of Shane Rogers, who was found dead in a cell in Cloverhill court on Tuesday afternoon, is seeking an independent …

THE FAMILY of Shane Rogers, who was found dead in a cell in Cloverhill court on Tuesday afternoon, is seeking an independent investigation into all of the circumstances surrounding his death.

Mr Rogers (32), Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, was on remand since Tuesday of last week charged with the murder of Crossmaglen GAA player James Hughes (35).

The father of three children was shot dead in Dundalk early on Sunday, December 11th. He was in a taxi that had pulled up at a house; also in it were Tricia Byrne, a former girlfriend of Mr Rogers, and the taxi driver, Anthony Callan.

Mr Rogers had been unable to live with himself after the shooting, it was said when he first appeared in court.

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In a statement last night, Seán and Margaret Rogers said they had instructed their solicitor, Martin Crilly, to write to Minster for Justice Alan Shatter and seek “a full independent and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of Shane’s death”. Mr and Mrs Rogers added that they “would like to again extend our sympathy to Mr Hughes’s family and also the families of Ms Byrne and Mr Callan”.

Mr Rogers had been on remand in Cloverhill prison since December 13th following his appearance at Dundalk District Court where he was charged with murdering Mr Hughes.

Mr Crilly told Judge Flann Brennan that his client had become a suicide risk and he asked for him to receive psychiatric services while on remand in prison. There was no bail application.

Judge Brennan directed that he receive medical and psychiatric attention. One of the key questions the Rogers family wants answered is what psychiatric care had been made available from December 13th until his death seven days later.

His family said they were very aware of the terrible loss being suffered as a result of Mr Hughes’s death. “Our request for an inquiry is not intended to deflect from the pain and suffering being endured by the Hughes family and friends.

“The last thing we would want to do would be to deepen the Hughes family’s grief. We know that Shane was deeply sorry over what happened. He showed absolute remorse over the death of Mr Hughes and the injuries to Ms Byrne and Mr Callan.

“Shane would have done anything to undo the harm that he had done. Our deepest sympathies are with the Hughes family.”

The Rogers family said they needed to know the full circumstances of his death. They said the justice system was aware of his vulnerable state of mind and they were fearful that other vulnerable people could also be at risk.

“We wish to emphasise that we feel that such an investigation is necessary in this case, not only in the interest of Shane but in the interest of other prisoners who are vulnerable.

“We are aware that a Garda investigation and an internal prison investigation are being carried out but we consider that a fully independent inquiry should be established by the Minister similar to those carried out by the Garda Ombudsman’s office.”

It is understood that the family has been given little detailed information and have found some of the media coverage of his death very distressing.

They have asked the media for “total privacy” and do not want it to attend his funeral on St Stephen’s morning in Inniskeen.