BREAKING: Case of Tipp man killed by Bolivian Special Forces referred to human rights court

The case of a Tipperary man killed by Bolivian Special Forces in 2009 is to go to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

That is according to a response to a Parliamentary Question submitted by TD Alan Kelly to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.

Mr Kelly asked that the Tánaiste provide an update on the case of Michael Dwyer who was killed in Bolivia in 2009.

Tánaiste Martin said that he had written to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressing his wish to see the matter resolved.

"I understand that in recent weeks, the Commission has referred this case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, submitted its Merits Report 394/21 to the Court, and, among other matters, requested the Court to require the State concerned to initiate a full investigation into the violation of rights identified in the Merits Report.

"I very much welcome this decision, and I hope that this will bring about the justice that the family has so determinedly fought for over many years.

"Please be assured that my Department will continue to support the family throughout the process before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights," said Tánaiste Martin in his response.

INNOCENT

Twenty-four-year-old Michael Dwyer was killed by Bolivian Special Forces in the Las Americas Hotel in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in April 2009.

The Bolivian Government subsequently claimed Mr Dwyer was part of a group attempting to assassinate President Evo Morales.

They claimed he was killed in a shootout with police at the hotel.

Those claims have since been strongly disputed by former State Pathologist Marie Cassidy in her investiagtion. 

And, it has been reported that the president was not in the country at the time of Mr Dwyer's death.

Since then, his mother Caroline Dwyer, has been fighting to clear her son's name and get justice for his death.

A DIFFICULT 15 YEARS

Tánaiste Martin said that he and his officials are in regular contact with the family of Michael Dwyer.

He said he knows it has been a difficult 15 years for the family and that he has met with Michael Dwyer's mother to discuss the case.

"I commend the family for their resilience in seeking justice and accountability.

"Earlier this summer, I met with the citizen’s mother to discuss the progress of the case before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. I reassured her of my and my Department’s full support for the family’s ongoing efforts to secure justice and to establish the facts surrounding her son’s death.

"I have also reiterated this in a recent letter to the President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In recent months, the Irish embassies in the relevant jurisdictions have also raised the case with the relevant officials and will continue to engage locally on behalf of the family, said Tánaiste Martin.

Full report in this week's Tipperary Star.