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	Mary Boyle (6) disappeared while visiting her grandparents in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal on 18 March 1977.</p>
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	The T&aacute;naiste has said it is not her place to call for an inquest to be held into Ireland&rsquo;s longest-running missing person case.</p>
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	Mary Boyle (6) disappeared while visiting her grandparents in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal on 18 March 1977. She is presumed dead.</p>
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	The case is back in the public eye after a number of politicians raised the issue with the T&aacute;naiste, Frances Fitzgerald, in her capacity as Justice Minister.</p>
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	In response to a parliamentary question asked by independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle this week, Fitzgerald acknowledged that there have been concerns raised about the initial garda investigation into Mary&rsquo;s disappearance.</p>
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	&ldquo;I have given very close attention to correspondence received in my department which raised issues in relation to the garda investigation and also the question of holding an inquest.&rdquo;</p>
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	Fitzgerald added that she is unable to request an inquest be held as, under the Coroners Act 1962, coroners act independently of her department.</p>
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	&ldquo;A coroner is responsible for the scheduling and conducting of inquests in his or her district and neither I nor my department has any role in the conduct of an inquest in individual cases,&rdquo; she said.</p>
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	Background</p>
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	Ann Doherty has claimed her twin sister Mary was killed by somebody known to her.</p>
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	Doherty met with Fianna F&aacute;il leader Miche&aacute;l Martin last month. She was accompanied by journalist Gemma O&rsquo;Doherty and Margo O&rsquo;Donnell, a sister of singer Daniel O&rsquo;Donnell and neighbour and distant cousin of the Boyles.</p>
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	Doherty also met Taoiseach Enda Kenny last November to discuss the case. She and O&rsquo;Donnell gave lengthy statements to garda&iacute; at Pearse Street garda station in Dublin in October in a bid to assist the investigation.</p>
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	O&rsquo;Doherty previously told TheJournal.ie that Doherty &ldquo;has known for many years who her sister&rsquo;s killer is&rdquo; after a person told her of their identity.</p>
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	Meanwhile, Pringle told us:</p>
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	&ldquo;It is important for Mary&rsquo;s family that the inquest is convened without delay.&rdquo;</p>
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	&lsquo;Ongoing trauma&rsquo;</p>
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	Fitzgerald said she is &ldquo;very conscious of the ongoing trauma and distress for the families and friends of persons who go missing&rdquo;.</p>
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	&ldquo;I can assure the house that I am fully aware of the various concerns which have been raised about [this case].</p>
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	&ldquo;I am also mindful of the sensitivity of the issues involved and, in this regard, I might add that I have previously met with the next of kin of the missing person, who is also the principal point of contact within the family for An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na.&rdquo;</p>
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	Fitzgerald added that it would not be appropriate for her to comment on an ongoing garda investigation.</p>
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	&ldquo;I am also mindful of the need to ensure that nothing we say would add to the distress which the family in this case has already experienced.&rdquo;</p>
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	Fitzgerald said she understands that a Garda review team is &ldquo;endeavouring to advance the investigation and that all avenues of inquiry are being fully being pursued&rdquo;.</p>
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	She noted that two complaints in relation to the case have been investigated by the Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), stating: &ldquo;I am advised that no misbehaviour on the part of members of An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na was identified by GSOC and the complainant was notified of these findings.&rdquo;</p>
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<p>
	O&rsquo;Doherty plans to release a documentary about Mary&rsquo;s disappearance, The Untold Story, next month.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/mary-boyle-missing-case-2775396-May2016/">http://www.thejournal.ie/mary-boyle-missing-case-2775396-May2016/</a></p>
