Shane Tuohey case highlighted in new campaign to reform coroners system

The case of Shane Tuohey, the young Offaly man who was found dead in disputed circumstances 20 years ago, has been highlighted as part of a new national campaign for the reform of the coroners system.

The #PeaceAndAnswers campaign was launched by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) this week.

On the ICCL website, 23-year-old Shane Tuohey from Rahan was described as "happy-go-lucky, a hard worker who loved being out on the farm with the animals."

"Shane died in 2002. The Gardaí say he died by suicide, but evidence suggests otherwise. Shane's family want a fresh inquest," said the ICCL.

It added that what happened to the Tuoheys "should never happen to another family."

The campaign calls on the public to write to their local TD to "demand that the coroners' system is reformed from the bottom up."

The campaign has been highlighted on social media and was also featured in an article in the Irish Examiner this week.

At the beginning of February, the Tuohey family held a gathering at their home to mark the 20th anniversary of Shane's disappearance.

Shane's relatives have long been campaigning for a full new investigation into his death.

"We're not anti-Gardai in any way, we're just looking to get answers. That's all we want," said Shane's father, Eamon, at the time. "If we don't get the answers, we will be continuing with this."

An independent, non-statutory inquiry into "the conduct and adequacy" of Garda investigations into Shane Tuohey's death was established in 2017 and was led by Judge Donagh McDonagh.

This ongoing process (known as a Section 42 Inquiry) has been affected by several delays, and late last year Judge McDonagh stepped down from his role due to personal reasons unrelated to the inquiry.

In January, Justice Minister Helen McEntee appointed retired District Court Judge Michael Coghlan to continue the work of the Inquiry.