Dáil suspended after Barry comments on Nkencho case

Dáil proceedings have been suspended after Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Mick Barry refused to comply with an instruction from Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl.

Mr Ó Fearghaíl told Mr Barry not to comment on actions or statements or decisions of the courts or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The deputy had raised the case of George Nkencho, 27, who was shot dead by an armed garda outside his home in Clonee, Co Dublin in December 2020.

The DPP has directed no prosecution against the garda.

Mr Barry told the Dáil that Mr Nkencho’s family will now have to fight “a long and a hard battle for justice”.

He said that, after apologising to the families of the Stardust fire, the same State failure was happening again.

Mr Ó Fearghaíl said: “Our hearts go up to the Nkencho family. The sympathies of every member of this house are with them and the memory of their son, who should not have lost his life.

“But we’re not going to talk here about the decisions of the DPP, let me be very clear about that.

“Please desist,” he told Mr Barry. “Do not try and take us down this road.

“You can state any facts you like, but you’re not going to come in here and abuse the long-established principle of separation of powers.”

After a heated and protracted exchange, the Ceann Comhairle suspended the Dáil for ten minutes.

When proceedings resumed, Mr Barry continued as he called for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) report into Mr Nkencho’s death to be published and made available to the family.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue – who was taking Leaders’ Questions on behalf of the Government – expressed his deepest sympathies to the Nkencho family.

Mr McConalogue said he knows that “this development will be upsetting” to the community, but GSOC will be engaging with the family.

“But I would like to, just again, acknowledge that this day will bring up very, very difficult memories,” he added.