Taoiseach insists party will not allow public confidence in gardaí be undermined

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that anyone who plays politics with a series of controversies involving the gardaí should hang their heads in shame.

With the Government forced to launch inquiries into suspicions of a spy ring at the Garda ombudsman and allegations of corruption and malpractice by a whistleblower, Mr Kenny told his party faithful that Fine Gael’s only concern is the public interest and the truth.

He told the ard fheis in Dublin’s RDS that public confidence in the gardaí and its watchdog has been weakened in recent weeks.