Callinan demands return of penalty point files

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has demanded the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee hand over a “box of evidence” provided by a whistleblower alleging widespread abuse of the penalty points system.

Mr Callinan wrote to the chairman of the committee, John McGuinness, after a report in the Irish Examiner two weeks ago that he had received a volume of documentation which could shine the light on millions of euro being lost to the State by a failure to properly implement the system.

“I am of the view that these files, containing personal data, are files which I am responsible for and accordingly should be returned forthwith to me,” said Mr Callinan.