Family of hit-and-run victim Shane O'Farrell get State apology in Dáil 

Shane O'Farrell was cycling home in August 2011 when he was struck by a vehicle in 2011. 

The family of Shane O'Farrell has received a State apology in the Dáil over the circumstances of the 23-year-old's death in a hit and run.

Delivering the apology, the justice minister also announced both a review of bail laws and a scholarship that is to be set up in Mr O'Farrell's name.

Jim O'Callaghan delivered the apology in the Dáil on Tuesday with members of the O'Farrell family present in the gallery to witness the moment.

"I hope that the review of our bail laws and the actions to be taken thereafter will help prevent other families having to suffer the way the O'Farrell family have suffered and I hope the O'Farrell family can take pride and comfort in the fact that Shane's memory will live on through the scholarship," said Mr O'Callaghan.

Mr O'Farrell was cycling home in August 2011 when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Zigimantas Gridziuska, near Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan.

The Lithuanian surrendered himself to gardaí the following day.

However, the O’Farrell family feel he should never have been at liberty to kill Shane.

On a number of occasions in the two years before the incident, he had been granted conditional bail but it had not been revoked despite broken conditions.

At the time of Mr O'Farrell’s death, he was on bail in connection with a number of separate incidents.

Speaking ahead of the apology, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Mr O'Farrell was exposed to danger which he should not have been exposed to.

Hannah, Jim, Lucia, Gemma, Aimee and Pia O’Farrell at Leinster House to hear an apology in the Dail. Picture: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos

Mr Martin said it was a series of failures which allowed the driver of the car that struck Mr O'Farrell to be at liberty "when in all reasonable circumstances, he should have been in custody".

"The O'Farrell family deserved better. Shane O'Farrell deserved better," said Mr Martin.

While nothing said in the Dáil today can change what happened, the Fianna Fáil leader said they would seek to ensure that Shane is not forgotten and seek to prevent what happened happening again.

Both Mr Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris paid tribute to Mr O'Farrell and to the tireless campaign undertaken by his family to get justice.

Mr O'Callaghan noted that the family spent 14 years seeking a public inquiry but said he does not need one in order to face up to the State's responsibility for failings in the justice system.

"It is part of the heavy burden that I carry as minister for justice that I must confront these failings in our criminal justice system," said Mr O'Callaghan.

"I do not need to wait for five years for an inquiry report to tell me about those failings. I know them already."

Mr O'Callaghan said he has requested an assessment of bail laws with recommendations to be brought as part of a report to be finalised and presented within four months of engagement.

"Our laws will be changed to reflect [Mr O'Farrell's] memory in light of the failings in the criminal justice system," he said.

The O'Farrell family is expected to make a statement following proceedings in the Dáil.