Rossiter civil claim to proceed

THE parents of a 14-year-old who died after a night in garda custody will press ahead with a civil claim against the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice for the wrongful killing of their son, even if they are unable to take part in a State-ordered inquiry.

Pat and Siobhan Rossiter attended a preliminary hearing of the inquiry yesterday and have been asked to return on Friday for further discussions as a dispute over the payment of legal fees and expenses threatens their involvement.

They have been told attendance fees will be paid for a senior and junior counsel and a solicitor on the days the inquiry sits. No other fees run up in preparing for the hearings have been promised and the family have been warned the head of the inquiry has no discretion on the matter.