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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Fr Niall Molloy investigation

Summary

Senator Leyden seeks a ministerial discussion of the report into Fr Niall Molloy’s 1985 death and argues that the case merits a full inquiry; the Chair rules that judicial conduct cannot be debated.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, to attend this House to discuss the report by Mr. Dominic McGinn SC into the tragic death of Fr. Niall Molloy 30 years ago, on 8 July 1985. As he was our local curate in the Castlecoote Fuerty parish, I knew him well personally. It is a shame and a scandal that nobody has been found guilty of the manslaughter/murder of Fr. Molloy in Kilcoursey House, Clara, in 1985. The current Government gave commitments to the family of Fr. Molloy, prior to the general election, that there would be a full sworn inquiry into the tragic death of Fr. Molloy, but this did not take place. The outcome of the report by Mr. Dominic McGinn, SC, states there will be no further inquires into the controversial death of Fr. Molloy. That is not acceptable to the families, however, who feel that justice should be done and be seen to be done. I followed up this matter at the time and met Judge Frank Roe who was president of the Circuit Court. The judge, who is now deceased, directed the jury not to find a particular person guilty of manslaughter, even though he himself was a personal friend. A lot of issues arose-----

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Denis O'Donovan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

The actions of the judge and what happened in that case should not be dealt with in this House.

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But it is in contained the report.

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Denis O'Donovan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

Irrespective of that-----

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I think the Minister should come into the House. It should also be borne in mind that Fianna Fáil was not in government at that particular time - it was a coalition Government. There is an implication that a senior member of Fianna Fáil was at the wedding. He was with his wife, but they left on 7 July. They were not there on the day that Fr. Molloy was murdered or died tragically.

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Denis O'Donovan An Leas-Chathaoirleach Fianna Fáil

The Senator's time is up.

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Fr. Molloy was chaplain to the Irish Defence Forces at Custume Barracks, Athlone, where he was a popular member. He told me himself that he was disappointed when the bishop of the day, Bishop Dominic Conway, moved him to our parish of Fuerty at the time.

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