Commission of Investigation hearings may be held in private

An inquiry into the taping of phone calls at garda stations could hold its hearings behind closed doors, after the Government refused to dictate whether it should be privately or publicly conducted.

The Cabinet agreed yesterday that the nature of the hearings would be a matter for its chairperson, Justice Nial Fennelly, who has been appointed to conduct the Commission of Investigation and report to Government by the end of the year.

The inquiry will examine the broader issue of whether there was any “unlawful or improper” conduct by the gardaí investigating the death of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier 18 years ago.