The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘We’re sorry for what we put you through’
Gardaí apologise to Joanne 34 years after botched Kerry Babies probe
THE Gardaí have issued a comprehensive apology to Joanne Hayes and her family for the treatment they received at the hands of gardaí during the original investigation into the notorious ‘Kerry Babies’ case in 1984.
The apology was made as gardaí announced a new investigation into the death of ‘Baby John’ whose remains were found at White Strand near Cahersiveen on April 14, 1984, sparking the ‘Kerry Babies’ saga.
Acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin contacted Ms Hayes by phone on Tuesday morning to personally deliver a formal apology for the Garda handling of the 1984 investigation.
At a later press briefing in Cahersiveen, Supt Flor Murphy issued a public apology that admitted to major failings in the investigation 34 years ago.
In the course of the apology, Supt Murphy said that the original enquiry “fell well short of required standards” and “fell short of what was required and expected of a professional police serivce”.
THE Gardaí have issued a comprehensive apology to Joanne Hayes and her family for the treatment they received and the pain they suffered during the original investigation of the notorious Kerry Babies case in 1984.
In a wide ranging apology to the Hayes family, Gardaí have admitted that the original investigation “fell well short of required standards” and “fell short of what was required and expected of a professional police service”.
The apology was made by Superintendent Flor Murphy at a press conference in Cahersiveen Garda Station.
At the press briefing on Tuesday, Supt Murphy also officially announced the re-opening of the investigation into the death of five-day-old ‘Baby John’ whose remains were found at White Strand near Cahersiveen on April 14, 1984, sparking the Kerry Babies saga.
Supt Murphy said that acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin had contacted Ms Hayes by phone on Tuesday morning to personally deliver a formal apology for the Gardaí’s handling of the 1984 investigation.
While the Hayes family have yet to comment on the matter, Supt Murphy said it was his understanding that Joanne Hayes had accepted the apology.
The apology delivered by Supt Murphy was wide-ranging and admitted that major failings had been made by Gardaí involved in the original investigation.
That investigation had been headed up personally by the then head of the Dublin based Garda Murder Squad, former Chief Superintendent John Courtney from Annascaul. Mr Courtney passed away last June.
Supt Murphy began by apologising for the pain and stress caused to Ms Hayes and her family.
“At all times Ms Hayes has co-operated fully with An Garda Síochána. The Acting Garda Commissioner has written to and spoken to Ms Hayes to formally apologise to her on behalf of An Garda Síochána, and I will now re-state that apology,” said Supt Murphy.
“It is a matter of significant regret for An Garda Síochána that it has taken such a long time for it to be confirmed that Ms Hayes is not the mother of ‘Baby John’,” Supt Murphy said.
“On behalf of An Garda Síochána, I would like to sincerely apologise to Ms Hayes for that, as well as the awful stress and pain she has been put through as a result of the original investigation into this matter, which fell well short of the required standards,” Supt Murphy told the briefing.
“The Tribunal headed by Mr Justice Kevin Lynch into that investigation rightly criticised many aspects of that investigation. For those failings, I apologise,” he said.
“It is accepted that the original investigation fell short of what was required and expected of a professional police service,” said Supt Murphy.
Under questioning from the press Supt Murphy and Chief Supt Walter O’Sullivan who leads the, so called, Garda ‘Cold Case Unit’ would not be drawn on why the decision had been taken to reopen the case now and apologise to the Hayes family.
Supt Murphy closed the press conference with an emotional appeal for the public’s help in cracking the three decade old mystery.
“We have never found out the full circumstances of the death of ‘Baby John’. We need the public’s help to change that,” he said.
“Someone is ‘Baby John’s’ mother. Someone is ‘Baby John’s’ father. Someone knew his mother or father. People have carried a lot of pain and hurt over the last 30 years. This is an opportunity for them to help bring closure to this terrible event and ensure that ‘Baby John’ receives justice,” said Supt Murphy.
“We would ask anyone who was living in Cahersiveen and surrounding areas around the time of April 1984 to speak to us. Even the smallest piece of information could be vital.”
“Anyone who comes forward will be treated with sensitivity. We will have specially trained personnel available who are trained in dealing with difficult and sensitive issues in a compassionate and professional manner,” he said.
“After all these years, ‘Baby John’ deserves the truth,” said Supt Murphy.