Garda offers expert view on tapes

The man who headed the Garda telecommunications room at Henry Street Garda HQ yesterday challenged claims that convictions of members of the McCarthy Dundon gang were open to court challenge due to taped conversations.

Now-retired Sgt John Delaney holds a diploma in electronic engineering. In an interview with Live 95 FM, Sgt Delaney said: “I worked in Henry Street Garda Station for approximately 20 years and I was the sergeant in charge of the telecommunications section and we were the people who implemented this recording equipment, so were probably the only people who knew exactly what the story was in the Garda.

“What I found very frustrating in the past week was the imbalance in the [media] reporting. It’s very easy for somebody to make allegations that calls were bugged or tapped, but Mr Devane has an agenda. I’m telling you as it was in Henry St, the switchboard, 999 calls, all emergency-related traffic, was recorded, and the minute that call was transferred recording stopped.”