US police witness ‘not crucial’ to Curtin inquiry

THE non-availability of an American police witness to the parliamentary inquiry into Judge Brian Curtin’s behaviour will not have a significant bearing on its work, the Irish Examiner understands.

The police officer was part of the investigation team that uncovered the existence of the Texas service provider that directed customers to child pornography websites.

However, the officer is said to be no longer willing to travel to Ireland to give evidence. It is believed that he has retired.

However, a reliable source said that the officer was a peripheral figure whose evidence was not crucial to the work of the committee inquiring into the judge’s behaviour.

The US investigation led to a major international operation to arrest customers of the site, using credit card details.

Judge Curtin was one of those arrested in Ireland as part of the garda operation, code-named “Amethyst”.

It was understood that another police officer, also involved in the original case, will travel to Ireland to give evidence.

The committee, chaired by Fianna Fáil TD Denis O’Donovan, was asked to collect evidence as part of an Oireachtas motion to impeach Judge Curtin for alleged misbehaviour.

The Tralee-based circuit court judge was acquitted, over two years ago, on charges of possessing child pornography when it emerged that a search warrant used to search his residence was out of time.

The all-party committee, comprised of seven members, has now adjourned its hearings until the autumn although a preliminary report has been produced.

A full hearing, with Judge Curtin, having full legal representation, was due to start in September.

It now looks likely that they will not begin until October.

The reason for this is that the computer expert retained by the committee has asked for additional time to complete his own investigative work.

The hearings, which are expected to last a week, will be held in private.