No garda probe on cocaine minister claims

JUSTICE Minister Brian Lenihan has ruled out asking the new Garda chief to investigate allegations a government minister was a regular cocaine user because he said there was no credible evidence to support the claims.

Gardaí can only act on claims of criminal activity if a formal complaint is filed but Mr Lenihan said there did not seem to be enough substance to the allegations to justify him asking Commissioner Fachtna Murphy to launch a probe.

“I think it would be a very hazardous investigation. There is no basis for the allegation other than a hand-written note and that’s where the matter rests. There is an issue of credibility about the allegations,” the minister said.

“I know if the commissioner had any leads on any minister, he would not hesitate to follow them up. I have no doubt the current commissioner, like his predecessor, will suffer no inhibitions in dealing with crime from whatever source.

“If material is put before me that is credible, of course I will deal with that and that’s how I would always operate as Minister for Justice but there is no credible material before me.”

Weeks of controversy have surrounded the claims made by journalist Justine Delaney Wilson in a recently published book and a two-part documentary series broadcast on RTÉ that a government minister — identified only by the pseudonym “Robert, politician” — admitted to regularly taking cocaine and suggested he was not the only member of the Oireachtas to do so.

Readers and viewers were led to believe a tape existed of the interview, said to have taken place in Buswell’s Hotel opposite the Dáil, but Ms Delaney Wilson said earlier this week she had digitally recorded the conversation and had since wiped it out, retaining only hand-written notes.

The freelance writer and documentary maker, who is abroad on holiday, issued a statement through her solicitor saying she had been concerned about the risk of disclosing the identity of the politician who gave the interview on condition of anonymity. She also said she absolutely stood over the contents of her book.

RTÉ, however, is conducting an internal investigation into the commissioning, production and verification of the documentary series.

A preliminary report has already been passed to the RTÉ Authority, the nine-member policy board appointed by the Government to oversee the company’s affairs. The full report is expected by the middle of next month.