Family of man killed over a decade ago demand apology from gardaí

Conor Moylan

On Friday 18 November the inquest into the death of Seamus Doherty concluded that he died from an unlawful killing.

The cause of death was found to be strangulation. Mr Doherty’s body was found at his home address on 17 June 2012 by gardai when there were four other people in the house at the time.

Despite the initial attending gardai reporting the death as suspicious, the scene was not established as a crime scene for two full days. The jury criticised the gardai for not treating the other people in the house as suspects. The jury of six heard evidence over three days.

Conor Moylan, of Madden & Finucane, solicitor for the children of Mr Doherty, today said: “The evidence given during the inquest highlighted serious systemic failures of An Garda Síochána during the vital early stages of the investigation. We are now 10 years on from when the murder occurred without any individuals being convicted.

“An extremely diligent jury returned wide ranging recommendations to address the failure of An Garda Síochána to adhere to their own protocols and a catalogue of deficiencies in the handling of the murder. It is in the public interest that An Garda Síochána implement those recommendations expeditiously to ensure that other families do not experience similar failures as those suffered by Seamus Doherty’s family. The family are actively considering legal options to ensure the jury’s recommendations are fully implemented.”

The family of Mr Doherty said: “We now call upon an Garda Síochána to implement the recommendations made by the jury and give a full public apology. We will be calling upon the Minister for Justice for a public inquiry regarding the systemic failings in this case. Thus far, there have been no consequences and an individual has got away with murder in our county.”