PAC defies Garda chief over penalty point files

A box of files alleging widespread abuse of the penalty points system will be used as evidence by the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, which is due to question Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan next month.

Members held a private meeting last night to examine the contents of the box, and determined it was relevant to its examination of whether public money was wasted by a failure to properly implement the system.

It will write to Mr Callinan today to inform him of the decision, which defies his demands last month that the box be handed back “forthwith”.