Rose Conway-Walsh: Condemns State Failings, Backs O'Farl Family
Rose Conway-Walsh addressed the Dáil about the death of Shane O'Farl, welcoming the O'Farl family to the gallery and pressing for answers about why he died. She described the government's apology as welcome but belated, criticised multiple state agencies for failings, and pledged continued support for the family's pursuit of justice.
Family welcomed to the chamber
Rose Conway-Walsh opened by welcoming Lucia, Jim, Jimma, Pia, Amy, Hannah and the extended Farl family to the gallery, calling them "the family that wouldn't go away" and thanking them for their years of campaigning for justice for Shane O'Farl.
Apology described as belated and insufficient
She said the government's apology, although welcome, "took far, far too long" and has been an excruciating journey for the family. She urged a focus on why Shane died and insisted the O'Farl family deserve to know the truth.
Allegations of systemic failure
Rose Conway-Walsh listed failures across agencies named in the transcript, saying the campaign uncovered "appalling ineptitude and inexplicable actions" by Angarda Shekona, the DPP, the justice system and other state agencies. She highlighted that the killer fled the scene, received a suspended sentence and a plane ticket home, and argued the state repeatedly denied the family justice.
Tribute to Shane and pledge of ongoing support
She paid tribute to Shane O'Farl as a "wonderful young man" and credited Lucia O'Farl's long campaign for bringing the apology about. Rose Conway-Walsh pledged her full backing and the continued support of her party, the Sinn Fein party, for whatever decision the family makes next, and linked Shane's case to other families still seeking truth, including the family of Joe Deasy from Mayo.
Hope for comfort and remembrance
She expressed hope that the apology brings some comfort and urged that Shane O'Farl always be remembered, ending with a personal wish that he may rest in peace and reiterating support for the family's pursuit of truth and justice.
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As we have done for several years now, I want to welcome Lucia, Jim, Jimma, Pia, Amy and Hannah and the extended Farl family to the gallery here today. They are absolutely the family that wouldn't go away and I thank you for that. Although I wish we didn't have to make, that you didn't have to make yet another trip to the house to try to secure justice for your son and for your brother Shane. The truth of what happened is important that it was outlined here today, what led to the death of Shane O'Farl. Reading that into the record is important. But what is important, Minister, is the why. And I wonder as I'm sitting here today, are there people who have spoken here today who know the why and the O'Farl family deserve that. Today's apology by the government, although welcome, took far, far too long and has been an excruciating journey for Lucia and the O'Farl family. The family have been forced to become campaigners for justice, meeting TDs, ministers, successive Tisci for years and years. And if it was not for the tenacity and endurance and love of Lucia O'Farl for almost 14 years, I can say with absolute certainty that this apology would not be happening today. The campaign for justice for Shane has uncovered appalling ineptitude and inexplicable actions in decisions made by Angarda Shekona, the DPP, the justice system and all of the agencies of the state that have been involved in this case. This family have been very badly let down by the systems that are supposed to protect citizens. And Shane O'Farl has paid with his life. A wonderful young man with a bright future ahead of him. The truth is straightforward. This should never have happened. There are examples that were read out today of the complete incompetence which has occurred again and again in this case. It is beyond comprehension that a beautiful young man, an upstanding member of the community, on the cusp of making his way in the world, was killed by a criminal who fled the scene, who received a suspended sentence and a plane ticket home. It beggars belief Shane O'Farl was the victim, not only of the man who killed him, but of the state that failed to protect him and then cruelly denied his family justice, over and over again. I hope that for the O'Farl family today's apology brings some comfort. I know it does for other families. It brings some hope, who right now search for the truth. Those who are denied inquest. Those who are denied the truth. Families like that of Joe Deasy from Mayo, who have waited almost seven years. And you know that, Minister. But I want Lucy O'Farl and her family to know that whatever their decision is on how to proceed from this point, they will have my full backing and the continued support of my party, the Sinn Fein party. May Shane O'Farl rest in peace. May Shane O'Farl always be remembered. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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