The Minister for Justice has said inquiries by his Department have identified the individual who asked for the Sheedy case to be listed for rehearing by Judge Cyril Kelly last November. Mr O'Donoghue told the Dáil that a reply he received from the Chief State Solicitor's office about the case has now been referred to the President of the Circuit Court and a member or members of the judiciary have been asked to comment. He said the reply in question detailed contacts with people who had a part in the listing of the Sheedy case.
The Minister also said that, upon receiving this reply, he had sought further advice from the Attorney General's office in regard to a possible Garda investigation. He assured the House that if it transpired that there should be a criminal inquiry, he would do his duty. The Minister said there were two inquiries underway, and he could not comment in detail, as these were still ongoing.
Mr O'Donoghue also rejected what he called “the outrageous innuendoes” in the Dáil yesterday. He said he had no hand, act or part in the listing or handling of the case. He said he did not receive or make requests on the matter. He also called on Fine Gael's Nora Owen to withdraw the allegations she made against him in the Dáil yesterday. He said it was particularly sad that she had made these charges when he was not in the House to defend himself.
The Minister was speaking during a debate in the Dáil on the circumstances of the case. Philip Sheedy was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of dangerous driving causing death. He was released by the circuit court last November after serving just one year, without the knowledge of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Opposition spokesmen said the Minister's reply showed that there were very serious questions to be answered.
