Bereaved mother leads calls for reform of bail laws

Shane O'Farrell was fatally injured when struck by a car driven by someone who was in breach of bail conditions

The family of Shane O'Farrell who was killed by a hit-and-run driver who should have been in jail at the time of the collision (left to right) Hannah, Jim, Lucia, Gemma, Aimee and Pia O'Farrell at Leinster House last year. Lucia O'Farrell said gardaí need the power to arrest a person who they reasonably suspect is in breach of bail without warrant and return the person to the court.

A mother whose son was killed by a criminal who was out on bail in a hit-and-run incident, has urged the Government to adopt expert recommendations to improve bail laws.

Lucia O’Farrell said Shane, aged 23, was fatally injured when struck by a car driven by someone who was in breach of bail conditions. The driver, Zigimantas Gridziuska, hit Shane as he was cycling his bike near his home in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, in August 2011.