Evan Fitzgerald investigation dates
Deputy Kelly accused the Department of Justice and Gardaí of conflicting statements about when the Evan Fitzgerald case was referred to Fiosrú and how guns were obtained. After repeated interruptions and reminders from the Chair, the Taoiseach said the case was traumatic, would check the dates, and would ask the Minister for clarification.
How could the Department of justice confirm in writing to a member of the media that the issue in relation to Evan Fitzgerald's tragic case was referred to Fiosrú on 10 May and the Minister could not comment because of that, yet at the justice committee yesterday the Commissioner said he referred it on 18 to 19 May? How could the Department of justice and the Minister say it was referred more than a week before it was referred? How could they say it was referred a week before the Commissioner actually referred it? How, on 4 March, in the original court case which is now over for this gentleman, a Cheann Comhairle-----
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I am referring to this poor, tragic, vulnerable individual who passed away. How is it that reports from The Irish Times and other media-----
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-----stated that when Judge Zaidan-----
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-----asked what the providence of the guns was, the Garda said, "investigations are ongoing" into who sold the guns?
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Investigations are ongoing and we now know the guns were actually given to him by An Garda Síochána. How could An Garda Síochána say in court-----
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You are taking complete advantage, which is of no value because we are now talking over one another.
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-----it did not know where the guns came from if we now know they came from An Garda Síochána itself?
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Deputy. Allow the Taoiseach to answer within the timeframe. That is completely unacceptable, Deputy.
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-----including the wider community and the family of Evan Fitzgerald, a young man whose life is now no more. It was a very sad and traumatic event. I will check with the Minister for justice for clarity around dates. The Minister or the Department of justice may have been told this was going to Fiosrú. If that is the case, one does not comment on it. That is normal.
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I would not comment on anything if it was heading for an investigation. That is why one leaves things go to investigation. I am not aware of the background to this at all.