Tag Archives: Fr Niall Molloy

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The watch worn by Fr Niall Molloy, cracked and with the time stopped, when he was beaten to death on the evening of  July 8, 1985. Gardai were not called to the scene until 3.15am

“The report does not answer all of the questions raised, however, and concludes that the precise events surrounding Fr [Niall] Molloy’s death cannot now be ascertained.

“In these circumstances, Mr [Dominic] McGinn [SC] recommends that examination by a further inquiry would not be warranted.

“In accepting this recommendation, I fully appreciate that it will come as a disappointment for Fr Molloy’s family and for those who have campaigned on their behalf.

Garda inquiry into death of Fr Niall Molloy vindicated (Irish Times)

Family of Fr Niall Molloy disappointed at Independent Examination finding (ShannonSide)

Previously: Who Will Rid Them Of This Troublesome Priest?

Fr Niall Molloy on broadsheet

(Eamon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

molloyFr Niall Molloy who was killed in Clara, Co. Offaly in July 1985

You may recall how the Sunday Times reported on November 30, 2014, that senior counsel Dominic McGinn’s examination of the Senior Crime Review Team’s report relating to the death of Fr Niall Molloy concluded that there was no evidence to support allegations of a cover-up.

The Senior Crime Review Team’s report was carried out on foot of the work by former Irish Independent journalist Gemma O’Doherty and Fr Molloy’s family.

Mr McGinn’s report into the SCRT report has yet to be published and, only last week, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald told the Dáil, again, that she is still in consultations with the Attorney General about whether to realease it or not.

Further to this, the Roscommon Herald reports this week that relatives of Fr Niall Molloy are to take a case to the Information Commissioner seeking Department of Justice records.

This move comes after previous requests for access to any records held by the Department of Justice in relation to Fr Molloy, under the Freedom of Information Act, only yielded records from 2010 onwards.

The records that were released were released on appeal.

The Roscommon Herald reports:

A nephew of Fr Molloy, Henry McCourt, who requested access to Department records, said the family was left with no other option. “We feel that unnecessary obstacles are being put in our way. Some of the information that we received on appeal should have been given to us in the first instance as it related to family correspondence,” Mr McCourt said.

“We’re not being given access to records before 2010 and at this stage we feel we’ve no other option but to go to the Information Commissioner,” he added.

Previously: Death, Cover-Up And Martin Cahill

Not Going Away

frmolloySunday Times article-2

Fr Niall Molloy (top) and last weekend’s Irish Sunday Times 

 

Bill Maher a nephew of Fr Niall Molloy, writes:

My family were shocked this Sunday to read an article in the Irish Sunday Times headed “review finds no cover-up in Molloy case”. This is not the first time information has been leaked to the media. The family have already reported a previous article to GSOC who held an investigation over three months. The investigation came to an end when the GSOC said the reporter in question would neither confirm or deny that he had written the article in question. Despite the fact that the article appeared in a national Sunday paper.
Last Sunday’s article article maintains that Dominic McGinn SC’s report ” has concluded there is no evidence to support allegations of a cover-up. This report is highly confidential and is at present with the Minister for Justice who is in in consultations with the Attorney General on it’s contents. The family only heard that the report was actually finished when we read about it on Broadsheet..  Neither the Minister or her Department kept the Molloy family up to date on the progress of the report which was to have finished before the end of the summer.
We had written numerous letters to the Minister requesting a meeting with her prior to the findings of the report being made public.
The Minister has not agreed to meet us. She has however been very fast to meet with Mairia Cahill to discuss her case which happened in another jurisdiction. The Taoiseach who also will not meet with us has also met with Mairia Cahill
The Fr Molloy case is probably one of the most high profile cases in the Republic for the past 29 years. In fact it made world headlines when my Uncle Fr Molloy was found beaten to death in Clara, Co. Offaly 29 years ago.
My family are deeply insulted at recent developments, leaks to the media and a failure of the Minister for Justice to give us an update on Mr McGinn’s review.

Previously: Death, Cover-Up And Martin Cahill

Leak of report into priest’s 1985 killing ‘a gross insult’ (Irish Examiner)

Justice For Fr Molloy

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From top: Fr Niall Molloy in the Irish College in Rome with relatives and friends in the 1960s and a false insurance claim on Fr Molloy’s life

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald is considering a report that aims to explain some of the mystery surrounding the death of Fr Niall Molloy ending a three decade wait by his family.

Ahead of this we have prepared a brief timeline of events around the case since the killing in Roscommon in 1985.

1985: On July 5th, Niall Molloy, Parish Priest of Castlecoote, County Roscommon and a Flynn family friend, attends an after-party at Kilcoursey House, County Offaly following Maureen Flynn’s wedding to Ralph Parkes of Limerick. The guests include the  late Brian Lenihan Sr and reportedly “at least one other senior Fianna Fáil member”.

At 3.15 a.m., James Duignan, parish priest of Clara, arrives at Kilbeggan Garda Station and informs Sergeant Kevin Ford that Fr Molloy has been killed at Kilcoursey House. Maureen Flynn’s mother Therese, a childhood friend of Fr Molloy, has already been sedated and taken to hospital.

Richard Flynn, Maureen Flynn’s father, makes a statement to the Gardai in which he states that he hit Fr Molloy several times with his fists in his bedroom following an unprovoked attack by the priest and Therese Flynn in the course of an argument over drink.

1986: Richard Flynn is tried in Offaly Circuit Court for manslaughter. The presiding judge, Frank Roe, writes to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Eamon Barnes disclosing prior knowledge of the Flynn family and Fr Molloy.

At the trial, Judge Roe directs that the jury acquit following an admission by Dr John Harbison, state pathologist, that heart failure could not be ruled out as a contributory cause of death, telling them “it’s a little bit unusual but not improper of me to say that no one intended any injury to be caused.”

A subsequent inquest finds that Fr Molloy died of acute brain hemorrhage consistent with an injury to the head. Speaking to RTE News after the inquest, Richard Flynn’s son David states:- “It’s very difficult, maybe, when one knows certain answers and isn’t in a position to comment. It makes it very difficult to live with.”

1987: Theft of the Niall Molloy file by criminal Martin Cahill.

1992: Niall Molloy file returned to the Gardai in a deal struck with Cahill and his criminal associate John Traynor, in return for charges being dropped against Traynor. Subsequently Sunday Independent crime reporter Veronica Guerin is made aware of certain contents of the Molloy file, including Judge Roe’s correspondence with the D.P.P. Guerin was working on the Molloy story at the time of her murder in 1996.

2003: Death of Judge Roe. His obituary in the Irish Times states:- “[h]e came from a staunch Fine Gael family and his political sympathies were always well known. He was described as ‘strong Fine Gael’ this week by those who knew him, and he was active in Fine Gael politics for most of his legal career.”

2010-2012: Irish Independent reporter Gemma O’Doherty carries out an investigation into Fr Molloy’s death. The results of this investigation, based on information supplied by Fr Molloy’s nephew Bill Maher (who has spearheaded the family’s campaign for justice for three decades) and  the statements of a number of individuals, including that of a Kilkenny surgeon, now deceased, details the presence of political figures in the house on the night of Fr Molloy’s death, and concludes that the blows causing death occurred downstairs, in the presence of a number of people, and that he took several hours to die.

As a result of Ms O’Doherty’s work, the Gardai Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) is appointed by Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy to re-examine the case.

Following concerns regarding the conduct of the Gardai in the initial investigation, including the failure to investigate a fraudulent insurance claim on a life policy taken out in the name of Fr Molloy naming Therese Flynn as beneficiary, Roscommon Labour Senator John Kelly demands his party uphold its pre-election pledge to establish an independent inquiry.

2013: Garda SCRT Report into the Fr Molloy death delivered to Commissioner Martin Callinan. The DPP states that the Gardai investigation has uncovered insufficient evidence to press charges.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter appoints prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC to conduct a review of the contents of the Garda SCRT report and in light of that review to (i) prepare a report on any issues of public interest that may arise so as to facilitate the reviewer’s report being put into the public domain as well as (ii) to identify any matters of significant public interest or concern which would warrant examination by a further inquiry, which would have a reasonable prospect of establishing the truth.

2014: McGinn Report delivered to Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald. The Molloy family is not informed and finds out about this online.

Yesterday: The Report Is In

Pics via Bill Maher at Justice for Fr Niall Molloy

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Fr Niall Molloy (top) and Minister Fitzgerald’s Dail answer

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald confirming that her department has received the long-awaited report into the 1985 death of Fr Niall Molloy.

More as we get it.

Previously: Fr Niall Molloy on Broadsheet

Campaign for Fr Niall Molloy

Via KildareStreet.com

UPDATE:

“I Just saw your report on McGinn report on my Uncle Fr Niall Molloy’s case. This is a complete surprise to my family. We have sent letters to the Minister asking when the report would be ready and got no reply. Once again we have to rely on the Media for information on our case. It is insulting and only adds to the upset we have suffered for the past 29 years.
It also confirms that The Department of Justice is in dire need of reform starting at the top. Some basic lessons in courtesy, communications, and how to deal with sensitive issues would be a start.”

Bill Maher, nephew of Fr Niall Molloy .

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Fr Niall Molloy (top) Roscommon Herald, July 1, 2014

The investigation into the investigation of the 1985 murder of Fr Niall Molloy was “well advanced” in mid-Summer according to the Department of Justice.

So, is it ready?

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Oh.

A written reply by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald in the Dáil last week.

Previously: Not Going Away

Who Will Rid Them Of This Troublesome Priest?

Fr Niall Molloy Campaign

Thanks KildareStreet.com

mmolloy[Fr Niall Molloy]

“Another case which comes to mind is that of Fr. Niall Molloy. Everyone, including the Minister [Frances Fitzgerald] when she was on this side of the House, has stated that what happened to Fr. Molloy was an absolute scandal. Senior politicians were present at the event at which Fr. Molloy was beaten. There are also indications that a senior member of Government colluded with the church to try to muddy the waters in respect of the case….”

Joan Collins TD  during a debate on the Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2014 yesterday.

Via Kildare Street

Previously: Who Rid Them Of This Troublesome Priest?

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You may recall a post from last week in relation to barrister Dominic McGinn, SC, who is reviewing how members of the Garda Serious Crime Unit investigated the 1985 murder of Fr Niall Molloy in a house near Clara, Co. Offaly.

The post dealt with questions put to Justice Minister Alan Shatter in the Dáil, in relation to journalist Gemma O’Doherty, whose investigative work led to the case being reopened by the Garda Serious Crime Unit in 2012.

Minister Shatter was asked if Mr McGinn will interview Ms O’Doherty as part of his investigation. Minister Shatter said he wouldn’t.

Ms O’Doherty wrote in the Irish Daily Mail yesterday how the terms of reference for Mr McGinn’s investigation preclude him from reinterviewing witnesses, including a man named Gerry North – who claims an eye witness to the murder told him a series of revelations about the killing.

In yesterday’s report [not online], Ms O’Doherty wrote:

[Mr North] and many others close to the case, believe the eyewitness was silenced by certain officers in the weeks after the murder. Mr North gave evidence to the gardaí that the eyewitness told him ‘a large number of people’ were present at the murder including a Fianna Fáil politician who was a household name, and a man from Kilkenny.

Mr North also alleges that the eyewitness said Fr Molloy was beaten up downstairs but that his body was carried upstairs and left in the Flynn’s marital bedroom to give the appearance of a sex scandal. The identity of blood found on the bannisters of the stairs in the country manor has never been revealed by gardaí.

Mr North was also told that Richard Flynn, who stood trial and was acquitted for the manslaughter of the priest, was not the killer.

He said the eyewitness told him that when he was interviewed by gardaí in 1985, he said they were more nervous than he was in case he would ‘say the wrong thing, which would be the truth’.

Previously: Not Gathering Evidence

It’s Time The Tale Were Told

‘We Do Have Truth But We Don’t Have Accountability’

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[Gemma O’Doherty’s investigation into the death of Fr Niall Molloy for the Irish Independent in 2010]

In December last year, Justice Minister Alan Shatter appointed barrister Dominic McGinn, SC, to examine how gardaí in the Garda Serious Crime Unit investigated the 1985 murder of Fr Niall Molloy in a house near Clara, Co. Offaly.

The Garda Serious Crime Review Team’s investigation – led by Detective Inspector Christy Mangan – was launched due to the work carried out by former Irish Independent journalist Gemma O’Doherty.

Following the Garda Serious Crime Review, the DPP determined in August last year that no further prosecutions should be made.

On Tuesday, Sinn Féin TD Gerry Adams asked Minister Shatter if Gemma O’Doherty will be interviewed by Mr McGinn in relation to his report.

Minister Shatter, in a roundabout way, said no.

He said:

As I have previously informed the House, Mr. Dominic McGinn, Senior Counsel, is at present carrying out an independent examination of the report of the Serious Crime Review Team relating to the Garda investigation into the death of Fr. Niall Molloy.

This independent examination will, in accordance with the terms of reference, comprise two main elements—
1. Counsel will examine what is a very detailed report that, for legal reasons, cannot be put into the public domain in its current form, and will prepare a report which can be put into the public domain on any issues of public interest which may arise from the report, and
2. Counsel will identify matters, if any, of significant public interest or concern that would warrant examination by a further inquiry and in respect of which such further inquiry would have a reasonable prospect of establishing the truth.

Accordingly, Mr. McGinn’s terms of reference involve an examination of the Garda Serious Crime Review Team’s report and not a new investigation or evidence gathering exercise. The Serious Crime Team report deals comprehensively with the issues of concern raised by the family and others as requiring further inquiry, including arising from detailed statements made to the Team by a representative of the family and the journalist referred to.

Mr. McGinn will be aware of these issues from his examination of the report and associated statements. A liaison officer has been appointed by An Garda Síochána to assist with any requests for clarification.

As I have previously stated, my priority is to allow the Senior Counsel to carry out the examination so that the maximum amount of information can be put into the public domain at the earliest possible date, at which point I will also of course fully consider the outcome of the examination concerning any further inquiry. While Mr. McGinn’s terms of reference require that he complete this examination as soon as possible, it is not possible to provide a precise timescale in this regard. I expect, however, that his work is well advanced at this point.

Transcript via Kildarestreet.com

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It’s been reported this morning that the family of murdered priest Fr Niall Molloy have asked Justice Minister Alan Shatter to clarify if any garda phone calls relating to the unsolved murder in 1985 were recorded.

In the Irish Daily Mail (not available online), Maresa Fagan reports:

“The family of Fr Molloy have expressed concern over the possible recording of calls between family members or their lawyers and gardaí over the past 28 years. Bill Maher, a nephew of Fr Molloy, has contacted Mr Shatter to seek clarification on whether gardaí are holding recordings of any such conversations related to the killing in Clara, Co. Offaly, in July 1985. Mr Maher has also requested that any such recordings from 1985 onwards, or more recently since the Fr Molloy cold case was re-opened, be furnished to the family.”

Previously: When He Was In Justice