Cycling deaths have been of increasing public concern. And now the case of a cyclist killed while he was training has thrown up details that his family believe necessitate a full public inquiry. The family of Shane O'Farrell, above, is not happy with investigations into his death carried out by the Garda Ombudsman or indeed by the Garda.
There are calls for a public inquiry into the case of a cyclist killed out training by a man who was on bail and had a litany of convictions.
The dead man, Shane O’Farrell, had just finished his final college exams when he was killed. He had competed in triathlon and was killed in a hit and run out training on his bike.
Zigimantas Gridzuiska – a 44-year-old from Lithuania but with an in Co Monaghan – hit and killed 23-year-old Shane O’Farrell, from Monaghan, in 2011.
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Mr O’Farrell’s family say the criminal justice system made a litany of serious errors in how it dealt with Gridzuiska.
They have said he should not have been free at the time he hit and killed Mr O’Farrell. And his mother, Lucia O’Farrell, wants to know what mistakes were made and who was responsible.
The Garda Ombudsman has investigated the case. However, the first of two parts of its inquiry has found no Garda member committed any criminal offence in dealing with Gridzuiska.
The ombudsman is now investigating if any gardai should be disciplined over their handling of Gridzuiska’s many brushes with the law.
The scene of the incident where Shane O'Farrell was killed in a hit and run while he was out training on his bike.
RTE's Prime Time current affairs show broadcast an extensive inquiry into the case this week, which you can watch by following this link.
One complaint the family has maintained for years is that despite the repeat offending of Gridzuiska, he was continually granted bail.
“Shane should be alive. This would never have happened if the gardaí had done their basic duty,” Lucia O’Farrell said
“Bail had no legal meaning for this individual and bail had no legal meaning for the gardaí.”
Lucia O’Farrell and her family wants a public inquiry into the case.
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Mr O’Farrell was killed as he cycled along the N2 Dublin to Derry road between Carrickmacross and Castleblayney in Co Monaghan on the night of August 2nd.
Gridzuiska appeared in court in February, 2013, in relation to the fatal hit and run.
Despite being aware he had hit his victim, Gridzuiska drove on. He left his Rover 500 at a friend’s house in an effort to hide his crime.
He then went home and told his wife what had happened. The following day he presented himself to the Garda.
He faced a range of criminal charges and was put on trial in January, 2013, for one of those charges; dangerous driving. He was cleared.
In February of that year he appeared in court again, this time before Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
He was given a suspended eight-month prison term. He pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of a crash.
And he also pleaded to failing to stay at the scene, failing to report the crash to gardaí and driving a defective vehicle.
He had 49 previous convictions at the time; for road traffic offences and drug, theft and stolen goods crimes.
However, he was told if he left the country within 21 days he would not have to serve the eight-month jail term.
The victim’s mother, Lucia O’Farrell, confronted Gridzuiska after the sentence hearing and told him: “You murdered my son. How dare you. There is no justice.”
Just weeks after he fatally injured Mr O’Farrell, Gridzuiska was stopped by gardai in relation to motor insurance offences.
In March, 2013, he appeared in court on three insurance charges, despite having been told previously to leave Ireland within 21 days.
He was sentenced to five months in jail by Judge Sean MacBride at Carrickmacross District Court. He had committed fraud in obtaining insurance cover to enable him drive.
Of the three offences he was jailed for, one related to the period when he killed Mr O’Farrell and the other two were unrelated.
While Judge McCartan told Gridzuiska the previous month that he must leave the country, he was still in Ireland and still before the courts.
Shane O'Farrell's family now wants a public inquiry into all of the events around how the criminal justice system dealt with Gridzuiska.
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