Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has told the family of Shane O'Farrell, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident involving a man who was on bail, he is still considering whether a public inquiry into the case is possible.
Mr O'Farrell's mother Lucia said this was the message given by Minister O'Callaghan after her family met with him at the Department of Justice.
Mr O'Farrell, 23, was out cycling at the time of the incident in 2011, near his home in Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan.
The driver of the car, Zigimantas Gridziuska, had previous convictions, including for theft, drugs and road traffic offences.
A court ruling meant he should have been in jail at the time of Mr O'Farrell's death.
The Dáil has twice voted in favour of a public inquiry, including in one motion tabled by Minister O'Callaghan when he was in opposition in 2018.
However, a scoping inquiry in 2023 recommended against holding a public inquiry.
Yesterday, Minister O'Callaghan told the Dáil he cannot ignore that decision.
Speaking to reporters as they left the hour-long meeting with the minister, the O'Farrell family said the meeting was positive and that a public inquiry has not been fully ruled out.
Ms O'Farrell, who has campaigned for a public inquiry for more than a decade, told RTÉ News: "He [Minister O'Callaghan] says he's going to think about it [a public inquiry].
"He didn't give a definitive answer, but we're hopeful now he will because he has heard all our concerns and there are public issues there, like warrants and bail and suspended sentences.
"I mean this man [Gridziuska] was on three suspended sentences, how is that acceptable?
"There were warrants out that weren't executed until after Shane was killed, he committed 30 offences while on bail.
"Our child lies in a grave, and so we need answers and we're entitled to answers."
Asked if the minister outlined how long it may take for him to consider whether to agree to a public inquiry, Ms O'Farrell said: "He didn't actually say, but he said he will come back to us.
"He said he's going to give this some thought and come back with a decision and come back to us on that, so we'll respect him on that."
The O'Farrell family also spoke with the media as they arrived for the meeting.
Mr O'Farrell's sister Gemma said that Minister O'Callaghan's suggestion in the Dáil of referring the case to the Oireachtas justice committee when it is established "feels like an unnecessary delay".
Mr O'Farrell's mother added: "Surely no one's afraid of the truth."
