High-profile politicians back father’s campaign

A FATHER campaigning for 10 years for answers to a series of troubling questions nabout the investigation into the fatal stabbing of his son has received the backing of a dozen high-profile politicians.

Joe Reilly, whose son Kevin died aged 16 in 1992, wants a meeting with the Justice Minister Michael McDowell and has asked for a review of both the investigation into the killing and the prosecution of a young man cleared of murder.

One politician backing Mr Reilly’s crusade, and who has asked a series of Dáil questions about the case, described the last 10 years of the Tallaght man’s life as a “living hell”. Mr Reilly just wants closure, said former TD and now Senator Brian Hayes.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, Sinn Féin’s Sean Crowe, Fianna Fail’s Charlie O’Connor, MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon, Independent Mildred Fox and John Gormley of the Greens are among the politicians who have called for a review of the case.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell, in a recent written answer in the Dáil, said the gardaí were satisfied the case had been investigated properly. He added that both local gardaí and justice officials have met Mr Reilly to discuss the various legal issues.

But Mr Reilly said he has continued the campaign in honour of the memory of his son.

Kevin was vilified in court as the aggressor, according to Mr Reilly, who watched as the person charged with murder walked free after the jury decided he acted in self defence. The 67-year-old Dublin man said: “All I want to do is put this to bed. I cannot do that until I get answers. I want justice and I want the truth.

“I am determined I will not give up. Kevin was a good lad and my pride and job and his name was sullied in court. I am doing this for my son’s memory.”

He believes the garda investigation was deeply flawed, particularly as he claims a key witness was not interviewed. Mr Reilly also feels a huge amount of the investigation revolved around an altercation the previous night involving the defendant and two brothers, Daniel and Gavin Daly, but not his son.

The following day, Kevin Reilly was standing with Gavin Daly and another teenager when the defendant approached. When Daly’s challenge to a fight was turned down, the three started laughing at the defendant.

“That’s when he pulled out the butcher’s knife and stabbed Kevin into a main artery,” said Mr Reilly, who claims Daly was never interviewed by gardaí.

Mr Hayes said that, whatever the merit of any complaint, any victim’s relative who feels he or she has not got a fair hearing has a right to have their questions answered and should be entitled to put them directly to the force.

“I do not want to go into the rights and wrongs, but Mr Reilly believes these questions need to be put,” said Mr Hayes, who added that the case touched on a wider issue of the voice of the victims being heard within the judicial system.