‘Nothing to indicate’ gardaí engaged in surveillance of GSOC

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said there was “nothing to indicate” gardaí were engaged in surveillance of the Garda Ombudsman at the time the watchdog set up an inquiry to investigate if members were involved.

In a new twist in the GSOC controversy, Mr Shatter said the briefing which stimulated the security sweep by British firm Verrimus was “contaminated” by a mistaken understanding by ombudsman staff of the reasons espoused by its chairman, Simon O’Brien.

Speaking at the Oireachtas Public Service Oversight Committee yesterday, Mr Shatter also described as “genuinely confusing” comments made by Garda Ombudsman commissioner Kieran FitzGerald in which he declined to exonerate gardaí of involvement in suspected bugging.