Mick Clifford: Shane O’Farrell case shows the State still protects itself, not its people
Ireland’s justice failures are not isolated — they reflect a deeper State culture of denial, deflection, and self-protection
Hannah, Jim, Lucia, Gemma, Aimee and Pia O’Farrell at Leinster House to hear an apology over the circumstances of the death of Shane O’Farrell. Picture: Collins Photos
On Tuesday, the State apologised to citizens it had wronged. The sovereignty of citizens is what separates democracies from authoritarian or totalitarian states. Nominally, the State and its servants are there to protect and serve the citizens, to uphold their rights.
Shane O’Farrell didn’t receive the protection to which he was entitled. He died on August 2, 2011, when a car driven by Zigimantas Gridziuska crashed into his bicycle outside Carrigmacross, Co Monaghan. Gridziuska should have been in prison at the time as he had repeatedly broken bail conditions.
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