Justice Minister to decide on new inquiry into Clara death

Justice Minister Alan Shatter is to decide shortly whether to launch an independent inquiry into the death of Roscommon priest Fr Niall Molloy in Clara in 1985. Responding to a question posed by Roscommon TD Denis Naughten in the Dáil on Wednesday last as to whether he would agree to an independent inquiry into the priest's death Minister Shatter said he would make his decision on completion of a Garda examination, which is expected to reach its conclusion in the near future. Fifty two year old Fr Molloy was found dead in the Offaly home of Therese and Richard Flynn in July 1985 after the wedding of their daughter. Richard Flynn was later charged with the manslaughter of Fr Molloy, but the late Mr Justice Frank Roe subsequently directed a jury at his trial to acquit him. Numerous claims have been made in relation to Fr Molloy's death in the years since the tragedy. Minister Shatter told the Dáil a number of lines of inquiry were identified for examination in the wake of a meeting between Gardaí and a crime reporter. Crime reporter Paul Williams claimed Dublin criminal John Traynor returned a stolen Garda file on the case in return for charges against him being dropped in his book "Badfellas". "I am conscious that the matter is one of great concern to the family of the deceased and in this regard I have responded, in so far as I can, to representations made by them and on their behalf," Minister Shatter told the Dáil on Wednesday. "I have received an update on progress on the matter from the Garda Commissioner but the examination remains ongoing and I expect to receive a further report upon its completion, at which point I will review the situation," he said. Minister Shatter highlighted the importance of allowing the ongoing Garda examination to proceed to its conclusion. However he did say he expects the gardaí involved with carrying out the examination will shortly be in a position to report to the Commissioner. Minister Shatter said that given the length of time that has elapsed since the 1985 tragedy he's unsure whether there is now "any practical possibility of making a prosecution". However he said that he expects if evidence meriting prosecution was available to gardaí the matter would be fully investigated and a file furnished to the DPP in order to determine a basic for prosecution. Fr Sean McDonagh of the Association of Catholic Priests called on Minister Shatter to set up an independent inquiry to investigate "countless inconsistencies" in the case of Fr Molloy's death on Wednesday night last according to the Irish Independent.