Family of Shane O'Farrell reject that Heather Humpreys did 'all she could' to advocate for him 

Hannah, Jim, Lucia, Gemma, Aimee, and Pia O’Farrell at Leinster House last May to hear an apology in the Dáil. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

The family of Shane O'Farrell, who earlier this year received a state apology related to his killing, "reject" that Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys had "done all she could" to help their campaign.

The 23-year-old cyclist died in August 2011. He was cycling home when he was struck by a car driven by Zigimantas Gridziuska, near Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan. At the time of Mr O'Farrell’s death, he was on bail in connection with a number of separate incidents.

Ms Humphreys was the family's local TD, and said on Monday that she was glad that the apology was given by justice minister Jim O'Callaghan earlier this year. She said that she had not wished to interfere in the case and had made representations on it. She said she was "sorry" if Lucia O'Farrell, Shane's mother, did not feel she had done enough.

In a statement to The Irish Examiner, the O'Farrell family rejected Ms Humphreys' explanation.

"For over 13 years, Ms Humphreys was our local TD, a member of government, and sat at the cabinet table. She was also Minister for Justice during this time. 

There is nothing on the public record or the record of the Dáil of her advocating for Shane...she did not vote on the two occasions that the Dáil voted in favour of a public inquiry.

"She never met our family during her time as a TD, nor did we hear from Ms Humphreys after the State apology. We do not accept Ms Humphrey's contention that she "did all that she could"."

Meanwhile, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has threatened to take legal action against Ms Humphreys, after comments she made on an RTÉ debate.

Mr Murphy’s solicitors have sent a letter to Ms Humphreys, saying the TD intends to issue defamation proceedings in the High Court over her remarks in an RTÉ Radio debate on Sunday, referring to an incident in Jobstown in 2014 involving former Labour leader Joan Burton.

Mr Murphy was cleared of all wrongdoing in court in 2017.

In the letter, seen by the Irish Examiner, Mr Murphy’s legal team said Ms Humphreys had accused him of engaging in “violent criminal conduct”, that he had committed “an act of gender-based violence” and that he was a “misogynist”.

Ms Humphreys has been contacted for comment.