The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has received the final report from the Commission of Investigation into the Dean Lyons case. Mr George Birmingham S.C. was the sole member of the Commission. Arrangements are being made for its publication and it should be available in early September. It is the intention that the families concerned be advised of its contents simultaneously with its publication.
 
The Department is aware that one newspaper has today printed articles purported to be based on the report. The Department is not in a position to comment on the accuracy or otherwise of those articles.

Under the Commission of Investigation Act, 2004 a commission before submitting a report to a Minister must send a draft of the report or the relevant part of the report to any person identified in the report. 

A person who receives a draft of the report or part thereof commits an offence if he or she discloses its contents without the consent of the commission or to the extent necessary for the purposes of an application to the Court.  This offence applies to individuals and to body corporates and attracts a fine of up to 300,000 Euro and, in the case of an individual, imprisonment up to 5 years.

10 August 2006