Family of hit-and-run victim Shane O'Farrell get State apology in Dáil
The family of Shane O'Farrell has received a State apology in the Dáil over the circumstances of the 23-year-old's death in a hit and run.
Mr O'Farrell was cycling home in August 2011 when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Zigimantas Gridziuska, near Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan.
The Lithuanian surrendered himself to gardaí the following day.
However, the O'Farrell family feel he should never have been at liberty to kill Shane.
On a number of occasions in the two years before the incident, he had been granted conditional bail but it had not been revoked despite broken conditions.
At the time of Mr O'Farrell's death, he was on bail in connection with a number of separate incidents.
Speaking ahead of the apology, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Mr O'Farrell was exposed to danger which he should not have been exposed to.
Hannah, Jim, Lucia, Gemma, Aimee and Pia O'Farrell at Leinster House to hear an apology in the Dail. Picture: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos
Mr Martin said it was a series of failures which allowed the driver of the car that struck Mr O'Farrell to be at liberty "when in all reasonable circumstances, he should have been in custody".
"The O'Farrell family deserved better. Shane O'Farrell deserved better," said Mr Martin.
While nothing said in the Dáil today can change what happened, the Fianna Fáil leader said they would seek to ensure that Shane is not forgotten and seek to prevent what happened happening again.
Both Mr Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris paid tribute to Mr O'Farrell and to the tireless campaign undertaken by his family to get justice.
Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan delivered the apology in the Dáil this afternoon with members of the O'Farrell family present in the gallery to witness the moment.
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