Minister apologises to hunger strike father

THE Justice Minister has apologised to hunger strike father Andrew Moynihan for staying in the Dáil bar instead of answering questions about the garda investigation into the death of his son.

Michael McDowell also told Mr Moynihan he would ask the Garda Commissioner for details of the investigation and the file given to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and would pass on the reply.

Mr Moynihan plans to continue his protest at the gates of Leinster House until he gets the reply but said he would then consider suspending his action pending further action on his grievances.

Mr Moynihan, from Ballyvolane, Cork, stopped eating on Monday evening to highlight questions surrounding the death of his son, 23-year-old Adrian, who died at a city nightclub over two years ago.

An inquest found he suffocated because of the way he was restrained following a struggle with bouncers. Despite arrests, no one was charged with any offence and the DPP ruled there would be no prosecution.

Mr McDowell was lambasted in his absence in the Dáil on Tuesday night and yesterday morning after it emerged he was in the Dáil bar while a stand-in, Junior Health Minister Ivor Callely, delivered a prepared statement to the chamber on his behalf.