Sinn Féin justice spokesman Martin Kenny TD has called on the Minister for Justice to establish a Commission of Investigation into the death of Fr Niall Molloy without delay, following discussions with the family after the recent RTÉ documentary.

The Sligo-Leitrim TD said: “Many of us were horrified as the circumstances surrounding Fr Molloy’s death were laid before us on RTÉ in the last week.”

The TD said there was a clear failure by many arms of the State to conduct a full investigation into his death, and a concentrated effort by members of An Garda Síochána and the judiciary at the time to cover up the circumstances around Fr Molloy’s death. 

“This is at the very core of a society that prioritised the cover-up of the well-connected over the right to justice for a family who lost their uncle and brother,” the TD said.

Kenny said that the deceased’ priest’s family should be “listened to and respected”.

FG politician Alan Dukes, who was a minister for justice during the era of the death, told the documentary makers that Fr Molloy’s family should drop the matter, as the truth would never come out.

However, Martin Kenny commended the family for their “unwavering and dignified campaign for answers, for justice, and for a full-and-frank investigation in the face of a State-wide cover-up”.  

“This death occurred in circumstances which have never been adequately explained or investigated. The facts of the case have been consistently covered up, in order to protect the well-connected,” he added.

“Some of those involved in the death, the events surrounding it and the investigation are now deceased, and time is of the essence.  

“When you go to court, you may, on a good day, get justice. What you should always get, at the very least, is law. Fr Molloy’s family have been provided with neither.

“This family has had 36 years of cover-up after cover-up, and it needs to end now,” he said.