Gardaí ‘obtain phone records’ in Sargent leak probe
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.
It is an offence for gardaí to release details under the Official Secrets Act.
Mr Ahern said: “If there’s anyone who committed an offence, that’s a mater for An Garda Síochána and the DPP to decide.”
The minister said Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy was aware of the importance of ruling out whether the leak had come from a political source, as was previously suggested by the opposition.
“The Garda Commissioner knows that particularly in relation to the political aspect of the accusation made against various people as to whether or not this leak came from a political source, I think he knows it’s important that that be dealt with one way or the other,” he told RTÉ’s This Week programme.
Officers are expected to interview Mr Sargent and his constituent, Dominic McGowan, who was the subject of the representations made by the TD to gardaí over an investigation about a row with a neighbour.
Gardaí have still not asked to interview Evening Herald journalist Conor Feehan, the journalist who broke the story, or made a request for his phone details.
Trevor Sargent also confirmed yesterday he has not been interviewed yet by investigating gardaí.
The Evening Herald is expected to fight any attempts to question its staff or obtain information about the leaked details on Mr Sargent.
A Garda source though last night said gardaí were able to make a request to phone companies for call details, as part of their investigation.
As part of the investigation, being headed by two of the country’s most senior gardaí, all officers involved in the inquiry into Mr Sargent’s constituent will also be interviewed.
Any garda in contact with the journalist by phone are also expected to be questioned.
Meanwhile, the Garda Ombudsman has again confirmed it is investigating a complaint about gardaí in connection with events leading up to the resignation of Mr Sargent.
Mr McGowan claimed he was warned by a garda not to pursue concerns about how he was dealt with by the force, according to one weekend report.
The Garda Ombudsman’s office refused to comment on specific details.
