MUM’S AGONY Gardai ‘unaware’ of her note on move not to prosecute tragic son’s ‘bullies’
Elaine Hughes with pic of Darren GARDAI do not know if they have a mum’s letter appealing a decision not to prosecute cyber bullies she claims drove her son to suicide.
Elaine Hughes said she posted a note in January challenging a DPP move not to bring charges over the tragic death of her son Darren, 17.
But yesterday at the teenager’s inquest a garda told her he was unaware of the letter and that the 28-day period for appealing the decision had passed.
Ms Hughes told the hearing in Dublin: “Darren was 17, he was a child, he was under my care. I should be able to speak out for him.
“There should be some form of justice. Our lives have been destroyed.
“I fought this long for Darren, I won’t stop fighting. I won’t have him dismissed.”
The teenager was found hanging at an industrial estate in North Co Dublin, on August 23, 2012.
He had been reported missing by his mother after he failed to return to the family’s former home at New Haven Bay in Balbriggan the previous night.
She said she wrote the letter after being told by Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane in January she could appeal the decision.
Ms Hughes added: “I was told to put my request in writing and post it to the superintendent at Balbriggan Garda station which I did the same day.”
Garda Derek D’alton told the latest hearing into Darren’s death that he was not aware if the letter was received.
He said Supt Noel Carolan was not available to attend the hearing. Garda D’alton added: “The normal procedure is that a letter would be handed into front desk.”
Ms Hughes said: “I was only informed of the DPP’S decision a few days before the last hearing. That seems to me like an excuse. I wasn’t even told I could appeal the decision until I was advised.”
CLARIFY
Coroner Dr Crona Gallagher asked the garda to clarify “as a matter of urgency” the status of the letter posted by Ms Hughes seeking an appeal of the DPP’S decision.
She added: “I’m not prepared to hear this inquest when it’s not clear if Supt Carolan received the letter or not.
“We need to clarify the sequence of events in relation to the letter in question as a matter of urgency.
“We cannot go ahead while there is a possibility there may be some fresh appeal open to you [Ms Hughes].”