Shatter: Garda chief told me about Wallace

Embattled Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the Garda commissioner gave him details about TD Mick Wallace escaping penalty points and that he publicly revealed it to defend the integrity of the force.

Mr Shatter offered an apology to the Wexford TD last night in the Dáil and said he was not in the business of collecting secret files on politicians.

But opposition TDs accused him of engaging in an “unlawful” action and of acting as “judge and jury” in divulging that Mr Wallace was given a warning by gardaí for using his mobile phone behind the wheel.