Ireland Covid-19 Public Inquiry

An Inquiry is established with powers to investigate matters of public concern and is typically led by an experienced Chairperson. Upon completion, a report which presents recommendations is submitted to Parliament for consideration.

What is the Covid-19 Inquiry?

Without question the handling of the pandemic in Ireland has become a matter of significant concern, particularly in relation to the handling of Covid-19 in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. To ensure Ireland is prepared for a future global pandemic, it is essential to guarantee a transparent investigation that will establish facts, and learn lessons from, the strategic response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland.

The upcoming Covid-19 Inquiry is reported to examine the preparation for, response to, and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland. It is understood that this investigation will bring clarity and ascertain accountability for the State’s core decision-making across key policy areas during the pandemic. By way of example topics of investigation may include but are not limited to:

• Pandemic planning and exercises carried out by the Government.
• The decision to lockdown and to apply other restrictions.
• The delivery of a system of testing, outbreak management and self-isolation; HEPA ventilation in all homes.
• The supply, distribution, and use of Personal Protective Equipment.
• The transfer of residents to or from care and nursing homes, treatment and care of residents including implementation and support for resident's human rights, restrictions on visiting, infection prevention and control, and inspections.

Other areas may also be examined such as the economic impacts of the pandemic.

Meet Conal

Conal McGarrity, Director of P.A. Duffy & Co. Solicitors has been regularly instructed in the most serious and high-profile cases within Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Conal practices in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He is an expert in the areas of human rights, dispute resolution, and medical negligence.

Conal is currently instructed in challenges against State authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in respect of failures to establish Public Inquires to investigate the handling of the Covid- 19 pandemic in each jurisdiction. He is highly experienced in public inquiries and state commissions of investigation. He is currently instructed in the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry, acting as the Recognised Legal Representative for Northern Ireland Covid-19 Families for Justice and representing victims of historical child abuse in the Bill Kenneally Inquiry, one of the most serious inquiries into paedophilia in Ireland.

Conal has also been instructed in landmark human rights challenges including, TKF v The Department of Justice, the leading authority on the interpretation of Article 75 of Council Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations. Whereby, the Department of Justice for Northern Ireland, as the Central Authority responsible for discharging the duties arising from that regulation, concerning the recognition and enforcement in the United Kingdom of decisions in matters relating to maintenance obligations that were given in Poland before it acceded to the European Union.

Meet Enda

Leading the legal team alongside Conal McGarrity is Enda McGarrity, Head of the Healthcare department and Solicitor at P.A. Duffy & Co. Solicitors. Enda’s caseload consists of high value medical negligence claims, historical abuse claims, Inquests and Judicial Review. He is also instructed in various challenges against State authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in respect of failures to establish Public Inquiries to investigate the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in each jurisdiction.

Enda possesses a strong sense of justice and is always keen to assist the most vulnerable people in society. He is committed to providing legal assistance to victims of discrimination, and this commitment to justice is highlighted in his current workload, where he acts to represent the interests of vulnerable care home residents, bereaved families, victims of historical abuse and those who have suffered significant injuries as a result of medical negligence.

Conal McGarrity, Director of P.A. Duffy & Co. Solicitors has been regularly instructed in the most serious and high-profile cases within Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Conal practices in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He is an expert in the areas of human rights, dispute resolution, and medical negligence.

Conal is currently instructed in challenges against State authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in respect of failures to establish Public Inquires to investigate the handling of the Covid- 19 pandemic in each jurisdiction. He is highly experienced in public inquiries and state commissions of investigation. He is currently instructed in the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry, acting as the Recognised Legal Representative for Northern Ireland Covid-19 Families for Justice and representing victims of historical child abuse in the Bill Kenneally Inquiry, one of the most serious inquiries into paedophilia in Ireland.

Conal has also been instructed in landmark human rights challenges including, TKF v The Department of Justice, the leading authority on the interpretation of Article 75 of Council Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations. Whereby, the Department of Justice for Northern Ireland, as the Central Authority responsible for discharging the duties arising from that regulation, concerning the recognition and enforcement in the United Kingdom of decisions in matters relating to maintenance obligations that were given in Poland before it acceded to the European Union.

Leading the legal team alongside Conal McGarrity is Enda McGarrity, Head of the Healthcare department and Solicitor at P.A. Duffy & Co. Solicitors. Enda’s caseload consists of high value medical negligence claims, historical abuse claims, Inquests and Judicial Review. He is also instructed in various challenges against State authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in respect of failures to establish Public Inquiries to investigate the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in each jurisdiction.

Enda possesses a strong sense of justice and is always keen to assist the most vulnerable people in society. He is committed to providing legal assistance to victims of discrimination, and this commitment to justice is highlighted in his current workload, where he acts to represent the interests of vulnerable care home residents, bereaved families, victims of historical abuse and those who have suffered significant injuries as a result of medical negligence.

If you have lost loved ones due to Covid-19, we believe you deserve the right to a full and transparent investigation. Our expert team will work proactively to progress each stage of this case without unnecessary delay. We consider it imperative that lessons are learned so that future deaths and suffering can be prevented should another pandemic arise.

We communicate with our clients on a regular basis to ensure that you are fully appraised of the latest developments of your case and that you understand what these mean for both you and your family. So many have suffered loss as a result of Covid-19, together, we can find answers to questions that have remained unresolved for far too long.

Speak to our expert team of solicitors today with no obligation and we will be happy to assist you with your enquiry. Please do not hesitate to contact us by email on covidinquiry@paduffy.com or by telephone on 015337860.