Gardaí ‘obtain phone records’ in Sargent leak probe

SENIOR gardaí probing the release of information which led to the resignation of Green Party Minister Trevor Sargent are believed to have obtained phone records in connection with the leak.

The Garda inquiry is likely to include a trawl through phone calls made by the journalist who revealed Mr Sargent had lobbied gardaí to stall a prosecution against a constituent.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern yesterday refused to comment on a weekend report that a serving garda was now believed to be the source at the centre of the media leak.