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Minister Fitzgerald grants short extension to O’Higgins Commission of Investigation

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, TD, has extended the reporting date for the O’Higgins Commission of Investigation by three months to end April 2016 following a request from the Commission.


This Commission of Investigation was established to investigate and report
on certain matters relative to the Cavan/Monaghan Division of the Garda
Síochána and has Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins as Sole Member. The Commission
commenced its work on 10 February 2015 and was set an indicative period of
one year within which to report.


The Commission submitted an Interim Report on 14 December 2015 requesting
the Minister to exercise her powers under section 6(6) of the Commissions
of Investigation Act 2004 to provide a three month extension for the
Commission to report. The Commission is now proposing to report by 29
April 2016. The Minister has granted the extension.


A copy of the Commission’s Interim Report is available on the Department’s
website via the following link.


ENDS


Note to Editors


Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins is the Sole Member of the Commission of
Investigation which was established under SI No 38 of 2015 to investigate
and report on certain matters relative to the Cavan/Monaghan Division of
the Garda Síochána.


This Commission arose from the report of May 2014 from Mr Sean Guerin, SC,
to An Taoiseach concerning allegations made by Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
The Government accepted Mr Guerin's recommendation that a Commission of
Investigation under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 was desirable
in the public interest in order to ensure continuing confidence in the
Garda Síochána and the criminal justice system.


The Government set an indicative period of one year for the Commission to
report. The Commission commenced its work on 10 February 2015 and,
accordingly, it is due to report by 9 February 2016.


The Order establishing the Commission specifies the Minister for Justice
and Equality as the Minister responsible for overseeing administrative
matters relating to the Commission, including receiving its reports.