Allegations of political interference in Mary Boyle investigation
Journalist Gemma O’Doherty plans to release Mary Boyle — the Untold Story next month, and has previewed 10 minutes of footage on YouTube.
Retired sergeant Martin Collins and retired detective inspector Aidan Murray were both involved in the initial search for the six-year-old when she went missing from her grandparents’ rural Co Donegal home, in 1977.
“A phonecall was made. It was a politician,” Mr Collins says in the footage.
Mr Murray adds: “I know that, as a result of that phonecall, that certain people weren’t allowed to be interviewed, it was all ‘hands off them’ and we were to look somewhere else.”
Sinn Féin MEP, Lynn Boylan, raised the matter in the European Parliament last month.
“Six-year-old Mary disappeared in 1977, and the man whom her twin sister believes is responsible for her disappearance still lives in that community and has never been formally brought in for questioning,” said Ms Boylan.
“Allegedly, a still-sitting politician directly intervened, and that intervention led to one of the worst police cover-ups we have seen in Ireland. To this day, there has been no inquest into Mary’s death, no commission of investigation, despite a formal request from the legal team. In fact, it has never even been debated in the Irish Parliament, which is why I am forced to raise it here.
“Six-year-old Mary Boyle has been failed by the Irish State.”
Mary Boyle’s twin sister, Ann Doherty, recently met with the Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin. However, Fianna Fáil have declined to say whether Mr Martin will raise the subject of Mary Boyle’s disappearance in the Dáil, as per Ms Doherty’s request.
“Very serious claims of wrongdoing are being made against named individuals and these claims need to be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate authorities,” the party said.
