DANA IRELAND:
Parents regard indictments as
“anniversary gift.”
Irelands welcome
slaying indicments
Their daughter was sexually assaulted
By Rod Thompson
and killed on the Big Island in 1991
Star-BulletinHILO -- John and Louise Ireland have been waiting nearly six years since their daughter was brutally attacked on Christmas Eve, 1991, and left to die. They received the news of the indictment of their daughter's alleged killers yesterday at their Springfield, Va., home on their 44th wedding anniversary.
"This is our anniversary gift," John Ireland said in a telephone interview.
"It's just wonderful; it's just wonderful," Louise Ireland said. "Now to get them convicted."
Brothers Shawn and Albert Ian Schweitzer have been indicted for murder, kidnapping and sexual assault in the 1991 death of Dana Ireland.
In July, a grand jury indicted Frank Pauline Jr., 24, for murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping. Pauline was already in prison for other offenses.
Pauline claimed in a statement to a Big Island newspaper in 1994 that he was present when two brothers, whose names weren't revealed, attacked Ireland after smoking crack cocaine. He later denied he was present.
The two brothers were formally identified yesterday as Shawn Schweitzer, 21, of West Hawaii, and Albert Ian Schweitzer, 26, of Kauai, as they were indicted on the same charges as Pauline.
Judge Riki May Amano set $70,000 bail for each. Arraignment will be Nov. 17 or 18.
Dana Ireland, 23, was riding her bicycle back to her Kapoho Vacationland home about 4:30 p.m. when a car hit her. A resident found her crumpled bicycle, a shoe and pieces of her hair.
About 20 minutes later and five miles away at Waawaa, resident Ida Smith found the severely injured Ireland near an unpaved road in an area with no electricity and no telephones.
Smith wasn't able to get a passing motorist to call police for an hour, and confusion about the location contributed to a second hour passing before Fire Department paramedics arrived. Ireland died about midnight.
Prosecutors said little about the case for years and finally stopped all statements after a Family Court judge restricted them from speaking about Shawn Schweitzer and another judge placed a similar "gag order" on them regarding Pauline.
Attention in recent months had focused on Shawn Schweitzer. Because he was a minor at the time the crimes were committed, Family Court had to release jurisdiction over him.
Although those proceedings were secret, attorney Ira Leitel confirmed that he represented Shawn, who maintained his innocence.
John Ireland said he thought the $70,000 bail for each was low but doubted they would be able to post it.
"I wanted the one that hit her with the Volkswagen," said Louise Ireland. " . . . I was thinking that was him (Albert Ian)."
In fact, that detail, like many others in Pauline's story, remains unconfirmed and confused by the fact that he and his mother have told different versions of the story at different times.
Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi confirmed briefly yesterday that the Family Court gag order is still in effect and she can't comment on the case.
Iboshi objected to "extended coverage," the use of cameras and a tape recorder by the news media, saying the case was "of a sensitive nature" and could have "repercussions in terms of life."
But Amano ruled in favor of full coverage of the reading of the grand jury indictments which included the Schweitzers.
Louise Ireland praised Iboshi for the hard work she has put into the case. The indictments come just months before the statute of limitations would have prevented kidnapping and sexual assault charges after December.
While the Irelands said they were happy, they are not yet relieved. "There's not going to be a burden relieved until these guys are convicted and sentenced," John said.
