Latest news with #CourtsService
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Irish government apologises to family of hit-and-run victim
The Irish government has apologised to the family of a cyclist who was killed in a hit-and-run caused by a driver who should have been in jail. Shane O'Farrell, 23, was struck by a car while cycling near his home in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, in 2011. The driver, Zigimantas Gridziuska, had more than 40 convictions at the time, including some in Northern Ireland. Speaking in the Dáil Éireann on Tuesday, Tánaiste (Ireland's deputy prime minister) Simon Harris TD said: "We acknowledge failures in the Courts Service and the criminal justice system that exposed Shane to danger on the fateful day of his tragic death." The O'Farrell family have campaigned for a public inquiry into their son's death. The body of the law graduate was found nearly 60 yards (54m) from the point where he was hit by a car on 2 August 2011. Gridziuska, a Lithuanian national, left the scene of the fatal crash but the following day he handed himself into gardaí (Irish police). He had been a regular defendant in courts in Monaghan, Cavan and Louth in the years prior to the killing, according to RTÉ. In the January, before the fatal crash, a ruling from Monaghan Circuit Court meant Gridziuska should have been in jail at the time of Mr O'Farrell's death. Instead, he remained on bail. Another prison sentence handed down in February 2011 was also not imposed. The Court Services of Ireland previously said Gridziuska's prison sentences were never served because of what it described as an administrative error. As part of their long-running campaign, the O'Farrell family have previously travelled to Belfast and Brussels to raise their case in Stormont and the European Parliament. Harris hopes that the apology can "in some small way can start to heal the wounds left by Shane's untimely death". "The harrowing events of that day in August 2011 were just the beginning of a living nightmare for the O'Farrell family," he said. Harris added that the government has made "a number of decisions" which have been recommended by the minister and have risen from the campaign of the O'Farrell family. He hopes these decisions will "bring about meaningful change" and said that Minister O'Callaghan will outline these decisions in more detail. "As tánaiste, I fully endorse and support the apology." Irish government to apologise over fatal crash Shane O'Farrell: Irish PM to meet family of County Monaghan hit-and-run victim
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Justice Minister to deliver public apology to Monaghan family of hit-and-run victim Shane O'Farrell
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan is scheduled to take to his feet in the Dáil and publicly address the family of Shane O'Farrell, who was killed while cycling near his home in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, on 2 August 2011. The 23-year-old was fatally injured by Zigimantas Gridziuska, a Lithuanian national who was on bail from at least five different courthouses at the time of the incident. Gridziuska left the scene before later handing himself into gardaí after hiding his damaged car in bushes near his home, several kilometres away. In March 2013, he pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of the fatal collision, failing to report the accident to the authorities and driving a defective vehicle. He never, however, served time for the fatal hit-and-run incident. The trial judge directed he be found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving with Gridziuska being banned from the State for 10 years. It emerged, however that Gridziuska ignored bail laws and court orders were not enforced with later inquiries also establishing how he received a six-month prison sentence in the year beforehand, which he never served due to a Courts Service administrative error. The Monaghan man's parents Jim and Lucia and his four sisters held face to face talks with Mr O'Callaghan in March where renewed appeals were made for a public inquiry into his death. Mr O'Callaghan, during his tenure as an opposition TD, moved a motion in 2018 which sought an inquiry into the circumstances behind the tragedy. Speaking in the Dáil at the time, Mr O'Callaghan said a subsequent scoping report which was led by retired judge Gerard Haughton and published in July 2023, would be sent to the Oireachtas' Justice Committee in order to consider its findings. In response to a call by Cavan-Monaghan Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy for the rollout of a public inquiry, Mr O'Callaghan vowed to keep his 'mind open', insisting a 'definitive answer' to that request could not be provided at that juncture. However, in a statement issued ahead of tomorrow's resumption of Dáil business, Shane's mother said Mr O'Callaghan would formally address the State's handling of Shane's death tomorrow. "We note Minister O'Callaghan will make an apology to Shane on Tuesday,' she said. "Shane's case raises serious issues about how the criminal justice system works and how it ought to work. "We await the apology on Tuesday."
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Justice Minister to deliver public apology to family of hit-and-run victim killed by driver who should have been behind bars at time of tragedy
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan is scheduled to take to his feet in the Dáil and publicly address the family of Shane O'Farrell, who was killed while cycling near his home in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, on 2 August 2011. The 23-year-old was fatally injured by Zigimantas Gridziuska, a Lithuanian national who was on bail from at least five different courthouses at the time of the incident. Gridziuska left the scene before later handing himself into gardaí after hiding his damaged car in bushes near his home, several kilometres away. In March 2013, he pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of the fatal collision, failing to report the accident to the authorities and driving a defective vehicle. He never, however, served time for the fatal hit-and-run incident. In March 2013, he pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of the fatal collision, failing to report the accident to the authorities and driving a defective vehicle. The trial judge directed he be found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving with Gridziuska being banned from the State for 10 years. It emerged, however that Gridziuska ignored bail laws and court orders were not enforced with later inquiries also establishing how he received a six-month prison sentence in the year beforehand, which he never served due to a Courts Service administrative error. The Monaghan man's parents Jim and Lucia and his four sisters held face to face talks with Mr O'Callaghan in March where renewed appeals were made for a public inquiry into his death. Mr O'Callaghan, during his tenure an opposition TD, moved a motion in 2018 which sought an inquiry into the circumstances behind the tragedy. Speaking in the Dáil at the time, Mr O'Callaghan said a subsequent scoping report which was led by retired judge Gerard Haughton and published in July 2023, would be sent to the Oireachtas' Justice Committee in order to consider its findings. ADVERTISEMENT In response to a call by Cavan-Monaghan Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy for the rollout of a public inquiry, Mr O'Callaghan vowed to keep his 'mind open', insisting a 'definitive answer' to that request could not be provided at that juncture. However, in a statement issued ahead of tomorrow's resumption of Dáil business, Shane's mother said Mr O'Callaghan would formally address the State's handling of Shane's death tomorrow. "We note Minister O'Callaghan will make an apology to Shane on Tuesday,' she said. "Shane's case raises serious issues about how the criminal justice system works and how it ought to work. "We await the apology on Tuesday."
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Plans to close two Co Tipperary courthouses labelled ‘short-sighted'
District Judge Brian O'Shea, assigned to District 21 covering east Cork, south Tipperary and west Waterford, wrote to the head of Circuit and District Court operations in March indicating that he is transferring District Court sittings from Youghal to Dungarvan and from Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel. The directions for the transfer were issued pursuant to Section 27 (3) of the Courts of Justice Act and Order 2, Rule 1 (2) of the District Court Rules with effect from November 1 next. Additionally, with effect from June 1 there will be an extra sitting in District 21 on the second Friday of each month where cases from Youghal will be heard in Dungarvan. It is planned that this additional sitting will be for Child and Family Agency matters. Details of these changes among others, which are set out in Statutory Instrument Number 77 of 2025, can be found on the Courts Service website. 'The Courts Service has now commenced engaging with the various stakeholders such as legal practitioners, gardaí, state solicitors, the Probation Service, the Irish Prison Service, local family law user representative groups, unions representing court staff and others, to explore any possible impacts and unintended consequences of the proposed transfers,' said a courts spokesperson. 'Upon completion of this work the Courts Service will report on its findings to the relevant District Judge and make operational plans accordingly. The Courts Service has no record of having received communications about this matter from Cork County Council, but of course will engage with them, as with others with an interest in this matter.' Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council Declan Burgess said he is 'deeply shocked' and 'disappointed' by recent reports indicating the planned closure of Cashel Courthouse this autumn. 'I am firmly opposed to the removal of services from this facility and their relocation to Clonmel,' he said. "This decision is a serious mistake. It represents a short-sighted move to centralise services without considering the negative impact on Cashel and its surrounding communities. "I have urgently contacted the Court Services and have also made formal representations to the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan. Rather than closing the courthouse, a small investment – such as upgrading the public toilet facilities – would be far more constructive and cost-effective. 'I totally oppose this approach and will do my best to ensure we keep our historic courthouse open and operational for the people it serves,' added Cllr Burgess. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more It's understood Judge O'Shea has taken the decision after four years of consideration of the condition of the court buildings. In his submission he said that Carrick-on-Suir courthouse lacks a public toilet, is cold and damp, attracting mould and vermin, while a stairway is rotting due to a leak. Cashel Courthouse's toilets were described 'disgustingly unhygienic' in Judge O'Shea's submission, while the building is small and cramped, meaning people have to wait outside on family law days. Youghal Courthouse is also cold and not fit for purpose, resulting in solicitors having to wear jackets and coats indoors. Judge O'Shea has said he believes that any inconvenience is compensated for by the benefits of attending a court in warm conditions with proper facilities, with improved security.
Irish Examiner
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Courts Service goes ahead with plans to move Munster district court sittings
The Courts Service has said it is pushing ahead with plans to move district court sittings from three areas in Munster despite local opposition. The Courts Service is moving ahead with the transfer of sittings from Youghal in Co Cork to Dungarvan, Co Waterford, meaning a 60km round tip for gardaí and court attendees. It also plans to move sittings from Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel. A spokesman for the Courts Service has confirmed that the district judge assigned to the areas wrote to the Head of Circuit & District Court Operations in March indicating that he is transferring the sittings. The transfer comes into effect from November 1. 'Additionally, with effect from June 1 there will be an extra sitting in District 21 on the second Friday of each month where cases from Youghal will be heard in Dungarvan," a spokesperson said. "It's planned that this additional sitting will be for Child and Family Agency matters. Details of these changes among be found on the Courts Service website,' the spokesman said. He added that the Courts Service has now commenced engaging with the various stakeholders such as legal practitioners, gardaí, State solicitors, the Probation Service, the Irish Prison Service, local family law user representative groups, unions representing court staff, and others, to explore any possible impacts and unintended consequences of the proposed transfers. The spokesman added: Upon completion of this work the Courts Service will report on its findings to the relevant District Judge and make operational plans accordingly The spokesman added that it 'has no record of having received communications about this matter from Cork County Council". That came as a surprise to Youghal-based Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley who won unanimous support at a council meeting three weeks ago to write to the Courts Service and department of justice urging it to keep court sittings where they are. She and other colleagues, including Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern, said the closure of Youghal courthouse would be a retrograde step. They said it would lead to a reduced garda presence in Youghal because they would be out of the town far longer while attending cases in Dungarvan. In addition, the move would put an extra financial burden on witnesses, especially if they had to pay for bus journeys between the two towns. Independent councillor Ger Curley, who lives in Cobh, claimed that since court sittings transferred from Cobh to Midleton there has been a lower presence of gardaí in the harbour town. Read More Overcrowding will cause 'tragedy', prison officers warn
