Garda phone-taping probe expected to get underway in weeks

The probe into the Garda phone-taping scandal and the investigation into the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder is expected to get under way within weeks, with its terms of reference going before the Dáil today.

Government chief whip Paul Kehoe says he does not expect any specific changes to the inquiry’s framework which was agreed by Cabinet last week.

The commission of inquiry, sparked by the emergence of information that some telephones at Garda stations had been taped for decades, must get the backing of the Dáil before it can move forward.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny extended the scope of the probe into the notorious Cork murder case after receiving a written request to do so from Ian Bailey.

The investigation, chaired by Supreme Court judge Nial Fennelly, will examine a range of issues such as the recordings of phone calls, other than 999 calls, at Garda stations dating back to 1980. It will cover the extent of knowledge of these calls at State body level, and whether the recordings of calls between solicitors and suspects were “used for any purpose whatsoever” and if the office of the DPP made any use of the data.

The inquiry will also consider whether the recorded calls and “any other acts or events” reveal “any evidence of unlawful or improper conduct” by gardaí investigating the case.

On the political front, the probe will look at events surrounding the unexpected standing down of Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan last month. This segment of the probe is likely to see the Taoiseach and Justice Minister Alan Shatter questioned about their knowledge of events leading up to Mr Callinan’s decision to retire.

Opposition parties have said the commissioner was effectively sacked by the Taoiseach.

Mr Fennelly is expected o produce his report within a year, but may ask for an extension if necessary.

He is to retire from the Supreme Court on May 2.