“In response to media questions about the circumstances surrounding the access to the courts of a witness in the recent trial, The Director of Public Prosecutions v. Eamonn Lillis, I undertook to deal with the issue when the trial had concluded.
Arrangements were made to facilitate the access of one witness to and from the court through an entrance at the rear of the courts complex. This decision was made with all due regard to the particular needs and circumstances of the witness including certain issues which arose prior to the trial commencing.
I am advised that part of the arrangements put in place for the witness included transport to and from the court. I am further advised that the driver of the garda vehicle carrying the witness away from the court observed a car in pursuit and radioed local gardaí to check the bona fides of its occupants. When local gardaí made efforts to stop the car, it diverted down a side road.
The decision made in this case was an operational one which I fully support. I believe that the circumstances which gave rise to the decision were peculiar to the case and are unlikely to arise again with any regularity. I would however support such a decision if the need did arise again in the future.
On a daily basis An Garda Síochána appeals for information and for witnesses to serious crimes. We are grateful for the assistance we receive from the public without whom we may often be unable to progress an investigation.
Private citizens step forward to help us in our task of bringing the perpetrators of serious crimes to justice. Very often this means that they must give evidence in open court. Many witnesses take this in their stride. For others it can be a difficult, sometimes distressing or traumatic experience.
A private citizen performs a public service and fulfils a duty to the community when they give evidence in court. They do so in sight of their peers, the community and the media who can report (with certain exceptions) most if not all of what they say. While giving evidence in a criminal trial can be said to constitute a public duty, giving evidence does not in my view make a private citizen a public figure. When a witness’s role in a trial has concluded, they should be free to resume their lives without intrusion.
For some time now I have been asked about the difficulties of investigating and prosecuting murders and other serious crimes where fear prevents the community from offering information or evidence to gardaí. In the main, this fear is born out of concern for physical or personal safety. It would be a grave development if individuals were also to be dissuaded from contacting gardaí with valuable information or evidence because of an anxiety or fear that their privacy would be the price exacted for their contribution.
For our part, we in An Garda Síochána will continue to deal with these matters on a case by case basis, bearing in mind our operational responsibilities and our obligation to vindicate the rights of the community when wrongs are committed against it.
Finally, I note the comments of the presiding judge in this trial about media coverage of this case. These are all matters which in my view are worthy of further discussion. I look forward to discussing them with the representatives of the National Newspapers of Ireland with whom I have scheduled a meeting in the near future at their request.”
Archive for February 2010
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy speaks on witness access to Lillis trial
Castlefinn sewerage problems must be dealt with immediately – Doherty
Senator Pearse Doherty
Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty during a debate in the Seanad has called on the Minister for the Environment John Gormley to take immediate action on the problems with the Castlefinn Sewerage Scheme that the community have had to endure for many years.
Senator Doherty said:
“This problem dates back many years and has been announced as part of different Government programmes. The Interdepartmental group in Donegal established by the Government to deal with the problems in the county had listed the scheme as one that was to be progressed.
It was to be done in a time lined manner alongside the Gaoth Dobhair, Dungloe, Glenties, Ballybofey and Lifford sewerage schemes. Half a decade on and none of these programmes have been delivered. The Interdepartmental committee’s report, like so many others, is just gathering dust.
“What is needed here on the government’s part is a bit of imagination to move this project along. Not only must the community of Castlefinn deal with the foul smells which are particularly strong in the summer time because the existing sewerage scheme does not have the capacity to deal with current demand; but also locals have been denied planning permission to build houses in the area because of it.
“The EPA in its Urban Waste Water Discharges Report released last year has listed the scheme as being inadequate and a danger to the local environment.
“The community of castlefinn deserve better. They deserve in the 21st century a system that will dispose of raw sewage in manner that will not pollute our rivers or leave a foul smell in the town but they are being denied this.
“I am asking the Minister for the Environment to think imaginatively on this issue. We have seen no lack of imagination from Government when it comes to Rody Molloy’s redundancy package, or high-paid civil servants escaping pay cuts. The banks have been bailed out, now it’s time to bail out the ordinary people of Castlefinn who have to endure this unacceptable situation day in day out.”
Dail drama as George Lee resigns
George Lee
The following is the full statement from George Lee, who has dramatically resigned from both Fine Gael and Dail Eireann after just nine months at the helm.
His departure from the Irish political scene has just been as dramatic as his arrival. It will be a devastating PR blow to the Fine Gael party, who will now look very stupid after currying favour with the former RTE Economics Editor, to get him to run in the Dublin South bye-election last year following the death of the late Seamus Brennan.
The full statement reveals:
I wish to announce that I have resigned from the Fine Gael Party and from my seat in Dáil Eireann today Monday 8th February 2010.
It has been a very difficult decision, but it is one that I have taken after a great deal of reflection on my position and on the role that I have been playing in Fine Gael since I joined that Party in May last year.
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The nine months since then have been a period of enormous economic upheaval. Throughout that period I have done my best to play a positive role in contributing to the national debate and to efforts to find a solution for many of the country’s economic problems.
The reality, however, is that despite my best efforts I have had virtually no influence or input into shaping Fine Gael’s economic policies at this most critical time.
The role I have been playing within the party has been very limited and I have found this to be personally unfulfilling.
When I entered politics last May I made it clear that I was doing so because I wanted to try to play a new role contributing to economic policy formulation. After nine months of trying within the political system it is now my considered view that the role available to me within Fine Gael is not a role I am happy to play.
I would like thank most sincerely all those who campaigned for me, for all of their efforts and support. I would also like to thank my Secretarial and Parliamentary Assistants for all of the help and work that they have provided to me.
I particularly want to thank the electorate of Dublin South who voted for me in such large numbers last May. It has been a great privilege and an honour to serve on their behalf. However, I do not believe I would be serving the electorate honestly if I were to continue allowing my efforts and mandate to be used to promote and market economic policies into which I have had no input.”
Last surviving founder member of Donegal mart dies
Tommy Elliott, Screen, Donegal P.O., the last surviving founder of Donegal Mart passed away on Feb.5th.
Tommy was born on 30th October 1922, the eldest of a family of 5. He attended Copany school with his neighbours and lived among them for the rest of his life.He became one of the most forward thinking farmers in the county, and , although the land was not great he made the best of what he had. Read more