Flanagan condemns ‘unseemly rush to judgment’ over killing in Dundalk
JUSTICE Minister Charlie Flanagan has called for ‘ongoing vigilance against all forms of terror’ and condemned the ‘unseemly rush to judgment’ in the wake of this week’s killing in Dundalk.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Mail on Sunday, Mr Flanagan warned that ‘in the aftermath of shocking events people should allow for due process and await the results of Garda investigations’.
Mohamed Morei, 18, appeared before Dundalk District Court this week, accused of murdering Yosuke Sasaki, a 24-year-old Japanese man, shortly before 9am on Wednesday. He has been remanded in custody until Thursday next.
Gardaí are attempting to establish his nationality and an Arabic interpreter has been sought for the next hearing.
Echoing security concerns about trial by Twitter, the minister added: ‘We do not need in sensitive matters such as this, parallel investigations separate to those of the Force into such incidents.’
He assured citizens that ‘that the national security situation is a top priority and all forms of terrorism are monitored in my office daily’.
Meanwhile, more than €15,000 has been raised to help pay for the repatriation of Mr Sasaki to Japan.
The appeal began with the aim of raising €2,000 for the victim’s family, but more than 950 people from across Ireland and Japan have now made donations, which stood at €15,070 last night.
Former Dundalk town councillor Ollie Morgan set up the GoFundMe page with the aim of helping the family of Mr Sasaki.
The page outlines that the donations are a ‘chance to show our solidarity with the family’ of the deceased, which left the people of Dundalk ‘shocked and horrified at the horrible and tragic events’ during the week.
The town will hold a candlelit vigil tomorrow for the dead man.
Donations are still being accepted online at www. gofundme.com/repatriation-ofour-japanese-friend