Interim report on cyclist’s death handed to minister
A judge’s report on the death of a cyclist has been handed to the Minister for Justice.
Judge Gerard Haughton’s interim report of his scoping exercise related to the tragic death of Shane O’Farrell, killed on 2 August 2011 while cycling on the N2 near Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, by a driver Zigimantas Gridziuska.
Gridziuska had many previous convictions and, at the time of the collision, was out on bail.
Background
Judge Haughton’s interim report sets out the background of the events that led to the scoping exercise.
He describes:
- The timeline of the death of Shane O’Farrell,
- The criminal prosecution of Gridziuska, and its outcome,
- The coroner’s inquest into Mr O’Farrell’s death,
- Lucia O’Farrell’s successful campaign, leading to the introduction of section 17 of the Road Traffic Act 2014,
- The Independent Review Mechanism, and
- The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission’s (‘GSOC’) investigation and report.
Judge Haughton says in his interim report that he anticipates being able to conclude the exercise within the next six months.
A motion was passed by Dáil Éireann on 14 June 2018, and Seanad Éireann on 13 February 2019, calling for the establishment of a public inquiry into the matter.