The Minister for Justice is considering a request to meet a woman who claims she gave birth to two children as a result of sexual abuse in south Dublin in the 1970s to discuss how he might assist the investigation.
Cynthia Owen requested a meeting with Michael McDowell following the recent decision by the DPP not to take any criminal proceedings in relation to the death of an infant 33 years ago.
Eleven years ago, Ms Owen claimed to be the mother of a baby girl whose body was discovered in a plastic bag in Dún Laoghaire in 1973. The infant had been stabbed to death. She said the baby was one of two to whom she gave birth at a young age as a result of sexual abuse during the 1970s when she was living in Dalkey. She claimed the other infant was buried in the back garden of her family home.
A Garda search last summer did not uncover any remains.
A Garda file was sent to the DPP following the allegations but no prosecution was directed. The inquest into the baby's death was reopened last September after legal representations on behalf of Ms Owen. On June 6th, Dublin County Coroner requested an exhumation of the remains from the communal Little Angels plot in Glasnevin Cemetery. Mr McDowell rejected the request.
The Department of Justice yesterday confirmed it had received correspondence on behalf of Ms Owen requesting a meeting. It is expected that Mr McDowell will decide shortly.
The inquest into the infant buried at Glasnevin Cemetery will resume on November 9th.