Garda data breach would see ‘bodies lying all over’

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said there would be “bodies lying all over the country” if top secret intelligence on informants was not handled properly by the State’s police watchdog.

The Garda chief said this was why there was such long delays in allowing the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission access to sensitive documentation as part of its investigation into allegations of collusion between a convicted drug trafficker and members of the force.

During a lengthy and demanding session before an Oireachtas committee, Mr Callinan said the area of intelligence and informants — and moreover the disclosure of that information — was “treacherous territory”.