On the decision of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform by way of a reply to my colleague, Deputy Stagg, when he ruled out an inquiry into the particularly brutal murder of two patients in Grangegorman in March of 1997, the Taoiseach will recall that a youth from my constituency, Dean Lyons, was arrested, questioned and remanded in custody on being charged with this particularly gruesome crime, which took place in the Taoiseach's constituency. He will remember that that youth was questioned on video and gave a pretty inconsequential statement. Following the video being turned off, he made a confession to the two murders, a confession that was expressed in the kind of detail and language that he would not have known unless it had been fed to him. Subsequently, another man admitted to what appeared to be the same crime. Two people confessed to a crime which only one could have committed. Dean Lyons was released and the charges against him dropped. Some seven years on, is it satisfactory that no one has been charged for these crimes and is it not a shameful way in which to treat the three families involved, namely, those of the two women murdered and that of Dean Lyons? Moreover, in one sentence the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform ruled out an inquiry. Is the Taoiseach satisfied that these families should have been treated in this disgraceful way? The fear among the public is that a suspect was readied up for a terrible crime he did not commit.

I agree with Deputy Rabbitte's core point that the three families remain affected by that terrible day on the outskirts of Grangegorman, on which two people were brutally and savagely murdered having been stabbed multiple times. I remember that during the Garda investigation into Dean Lyons, many people articulated their suspicions about whether or not he was responsible. As I recall, a person came forward subsequently who had been involved in other offences, although my recollection may not be correct.

I assume the reason the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has not been prepared to order an investigation into this matter is that it is always the practice when a Garda file on a case remains open and under investigation. I assume that is the case, but I can check with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and revert to the Deputy. If it is not the case, I am sure the Garda's view of Dean Lyons, who I understand was cleared by the investigations, has been examined. However, I would have to examine the case as it happened some years ago. As no one was charged with the murders, I understand that the investigation remains open, in which case the type of investigation referred to by Deputy Rabbitte would not be undertaken. However, I will have to check if that is the position with the Garda.

I accept it is a long time ago and that the Taoiseach needs to refresh his memory. My point is that no one has yet been charged with the murders some seven years later. An internal Garda inquiry was undertaken, the results of which were never made public. Does the Taoiseach contend that because the investigation file is still open, the circumstances in which a not particularly literate youth who was a known drug abuser confessed in the Queen's English to circumstances about which he could not have known, must be left without being inquired into? Is he satisfied with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in a reply to Deputy Stagg stating that "following consideration of the matter, I am not at present satisfied that a public inquiry is required"?

I am not asking for a public inquiry or any inquiry which would imply in people's minds another tribunal. However, I refer the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to his own Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, which I thought we put in place precisely for this kind of purpose, namely, so that an investigation into a matter of profound public interest may be conducted speedily, efficiently and relatively very cheaply.

In a reply to a question from Deputy Costello last week, the Minister stated that some 750 civil actions are extant against the Garda Síochána. There is much public disquiet about this case. Three families are very distressed by the fact that no charges have been brought and it requires the attention of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

I accept Deputy Rabbitte's point and will raise the matter with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The language used by the Deputy is employed when an investigation file is still open or is reviewed on a regular basis and, in such cases, the Garda, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the DPP tend not to pursue any inquiry. I also admit that seven years is a long time to wait if clouds hang over someone, or if pressures hand over someone as in the case of Dean Lyons, not to mention the families of the murdered people in this case. Except on rare occasions, internal Garda inquiries are not normally published. However, I will discuss the matter with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and inform Deputy Rabbitte of his views.