Ex-detective: Open full public inquiry into case
A FORMER detective involved in the Kerry Babies case from the outset wants a “full public inquiry” claiming he first called for Baby John to be exhumed 20 years ago.
Retired detective inspector Gerry O’carroll was one of two officers to interrogate Joanne Hayes in 1984.
A state tribunal was later set up to investigate the actions of gardai and Ms Hayes eventually received a State apology and substantial compensation.
But Mr O’carroll, who has always vehemently denied any allegations of wrongdoing, said he wants his name cleared.
He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I want a full public inquiry.
“I want that to be put to bed forever more before I pass on to the next world.
“I will not have that hanging over my name and my reputation.
“I was a good detective for 24 years and was involved in over 100 murder investigations, never once was I condemned by a court or castigated or criticised.
“I felt that this was a huge blemish on my career, a huge one. I want to clear my name once and for all.”
The Garda murder squad arrested Joanne Hayes after a list of pregnant women who had either left the county or had not appeared to have a newborn infant was drawn up.
She was wrongly accused of being Baby John’s mother and held at Limerick Prison, but all charges were dropped later that year.
Mr O’carroll denied any wrongdoing and said: “I treated
Joanne with the utmost courtesy, as I would with my own daughter.
“The tribunal had come up with the same conclusion – I was never criticised.
“I’m not only singling myself out, I’m one of the last surviving members of the murder squad that was involved in that and I’m stating that.”
Mr O’carroll said justice for Baby John was uppermost in his mind and he hoped whoever killed the infant would be brought to account. He added: “I’m always invested and have always been in justice for the little infant that they call Baby John.
“I have never ever forgotten what is more important than any other consideration and that was to find the killer of the baby.
“I hope that justice will at last be found for that infant whose life was so needlessly and brutally ended.
“I would like to see justice done. He deserves justice, everything else pales in comparison.
“I will always remember the little infant found on that beach at White Strand.”
Mr O’carroll said forensic tools were “primitive” in 1984 and DNA had “changed the face and whole structure of policing”.
Gardai exhumed Baby John’s remains from Holy Cross Cemetery, Caherciveen in September 2021 as officers took a fresh look at the case.
Mr O’carroll said he had wanted this done decades earlier.
He added: “Many years ago, maybe 20 or 25 years ago, I called for Baby John to be exhumed and to be subjected to a DNA analysis.
“Hopefully we will see closure and justice for the baby.”