Victims of homicide and their families deserve justice – Bacik calls for action on Plunkett case

• On Saturday, 20^th September, Deputy Bacik will address the memorial service and 20^th anniversary of AdVIC, a non-profit organisation established in April 2005, with her support, by families bereaved by homicide, for families bereaved by homicide.
• Separately, she has called on the Minister of Justice to review the Parole Act legislation to include victims as defined by the Victims of Crime Act (2017), thereby ensuring that families like the Plunketts are not excluded from the parole process.
• Cold case review must be opened to facilitate prosecution of Evans.

Labour Leader and TD for Dublin Bay South, Ivana Bacik, has called on the Gardaí and Government to answer the calls of the family of Elizabeth Plunkett. On Liveline last week, it was revealed by Elizabeth Plunkett’s sister, Kathleen, that John Shaw – one of Ireland’s first serial killers and one of Elizabeth Plunkett’s murderers – has been hospitalised.

Deputy Bacik has said that the interview with Kathleen has formally put the Government on notice that the families of homicide victims need support. More broadly, speaking in advance of the bi-annual AdVIC memorial service, she has urged engagement by the Justice Minister with the families of victims of homicide, and with survivors of violence attack, to ensure that they are not further traumatised through their experience of the criminal justice system.

Deputy Bacik said:

“Elizabeth Plunkett was murdered, alongside Mary Duffy, by John Shaw and Geoffrey Evans in 1976. Both Evans and Shaw were convicted of the abduction, rape and murder of Mary Duffy – but nobody has ever been held to account for the murder of Elizabeth. Now in his 80s, news of Shaw’s hospitalisation must prompt renewed focus on delivering justice for Elizabeth’s family.

“It should not have taken my political intervention in the Dáil to secure an inquest into Elizabeth’s death. It should not have taken a radio documentary to gather new information into the murders. The Plunketts should never have had to fight so hard to be treated with compassion. I commend Kathleen, and her siblings Bernadette, Eddie, Joan, Liam and Thomas, for bravely participating in RTÉ’s Stolen Sister podcast and on Liveline last week. Without their strong campaign, justice for Elizabeth would not still be on the political radar. It is 49 years since she was murdered, and the family of Elizabeth Plunkett deserve justice.

“The RTÉ podcast has made it abundantly clear that a thorough review of all available evidential material should be carried out now. It’s also clear that, even after the passage of time, people may still have relevant evidence to offer. We must now see the Gardaí use new information, unearthed following broadcast of the Stolen Sister podcast, to open a cold case review into Elizabeth’s killing. Such an investigation would assist the DPP in putting Shaw forward for trial on the charges previously brought against him but never concluded – namely, the abduction, rape and murder of Elizabeth Plunkett.

“Furthermore, there is also a need to address an anomaly in our justice system, whereby some families are deprived of their victimhood status, as is the case for Elizabeth’s family. I echo the Plunketts’ call for a review of Parole Act legislation to include victims as defined by the Victims of Crime Act (2017), thereby ensuring that families like theirs are not excluded from the parole process in future. Evans died in prison some years ago; but Shaw remains incarcerated, having been convicted of murdering Mary Duffy. He was never convicted of Elizabeth’s murder. Due to this anomaly, Elizabeth Plunkett’s family are not legally regarded as victims within the Parole Board process – this glaring issue must be addressed.

“I urge the Government to engage with Elizabeth Plunkett’s family, so that they may get the justice that their family deserves. Moreover, I want to commend the organisation, AdVIC, on its 20^th anniversary on 20^th September. I look forward to attending the memorial service in St. Anne’s Church, Dawson Street. When a person is murdered, their family, friends and community also become indirect victims of the homicide. As policymakers, we must remember that and we must ensure they are consulted on new criminal justice changes and other measures dealing with the aftermath of such a heinous crime.”