Grealis family to wait four weeks for Dutch court decision

Grealis family to wait four weeks for Dutch court decision


Anton McNulty

The family of missing Achill man, JP Grealis, will have to wait another four weeks to find out if the investigation into his disappearance will be reopened.
Last week, JP’s family appeared before a Dutch Court of Appeals, where their legal representatives sought to have the investigation into his disappearance reopened.
James Patrick (JP) Grealis from Tonragee, Achill, went missing in the Dutch town of Breda in October 2008 while looking for work. There has been no sign of him since. Following initial investigations, the Dutch Police officially closed the case in July 2012 claiming there was no evidence of a criminal offence.
The court hearing before a three-judge panel in the town of s’Hertogenbosch took place last Tuesday. Lawyers for the Grealis family outlined reasons why a more detailed investigation was needed. Lawyers for the District Attorney opposed the application to reopen the investigation. The judges are due to give their ruling in four weeks’ time.
JP’s sister, Helen, who was present in court, described the hearing as ‘intense’, adding the their lawyer was very precise and presented a good case on their behalf. She explained they could not publicly discuss details of the hearing until a verdict is returned, as they did not what to affect anything that may happen in the future should a more detailed investigation was granted.
The Grealis family has been fighting a lengthy battle with the Dutch police over their investigation into JP’s disappearance. After the case was first closed, a breakthrough of sorts occurred in April 2012 when the Police agreed to reopen the investigation following a demonstration outside the Dutch Embassy in Dublin.
However, the family were informed later that year that the case was again closed. However, the family do not believe a thorough investigation took place, prompting their current legal action against the investigators.