McDowell dismisses Rossiter family’s barrister claims

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has dismissed claims by the family of a schoolboy who died after a night in garda custody that they will not have a barrister of their choice at the inquiry into his death.

Mr McDowell denied that limiting the fees available to barristers working on the inquiry would restrict the family’s choice of legal expert to represent them in the proceedings.

The family of 14-year-old Brian Rossiter who died in unclear circumstances after a night in Clonmel Garda Station in 2002, have claimed they cannot get an experienced senior counsel to work for the State-paid daily rate of €1,008 laid down by new legislation governing statutory inquiries. Brian’s father, Pat Rossiter, said the family would not be able to co-operate with the inquiry if the ceiling on fees was not lifted as they could not afford to fund a legal team themselves.