Lawyers claim Oireachtas is entitled to access Curtin’s computer

THE Oireachtas is entitled to have access to a computer seized by gardaí from the home of Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin, lawyers for the State have claimed before the Supreme Court.

The fact that the computer and other materials were seized in May 2002 on foot of a warrant which was invalidly executed, although validly granted, does not mean they are permanently immune from further seizure, Mr Brian Murray SC argued.

It was of importance that this was a situation where gardaí who were involved in the search did not know they were infringing the judge’s constitutional rights and were not acting in bad faith.