GSOC considers publishing report

The leadership of the Garda ombudsman is considering publishing an edited version of the internal report into the leaking of a top secret document.

It follows a call from Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to the watchdog to publish the report with the sensitive personal data redacted.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission issued a one-page statement on the findings of its internal report on Thursday of last week.

It said the commissioners had decided not to publish the actual investigation report as it contained “personal data which is impossible to redact effectively.”

The inquiry, conducted by senior barrister Mark Connaughton, said it had been unable to identify who leaked details from a top secret document — on the suspected bugging of GSOC — to the Sunday Times.

It drew a critical response from the Garda Representative Association, which said it was “unclear” who GSOC was accountable to.

In a hard-hitting attack in the Dáil on Wednesday, former justice minister Alan Shatter said it was not tenable for the three commissioners to keep their positions.

He claimed that by not publishing the report, GSOC “clearly intends to conceal its contents.”

Mr Shatter added: “It is not acceptable that the report remain unpublished or that it be edited into incoherence before publication.”

Responding, Ms Fitzgerald said: “I believe that as much information as possible on the outcome of this inquiry should be put into the public domain in the interests of transparency. That is why, while fully respecting GSOC’s statutory independence, I have asked GSOC, in consultation with the senior counsel concerned, and with whatever level of redaction might be legally necessary, to now consider publishing the report in the public interest.”

A spokeswoman for the Garda Ombudsman said they were considering the minister’s request taking into account a range of factors, not least the legal implications.

A meeting this week between Ms Fitzgerald and the commissioners to discuss the report has been deferred to the coming weeks because of work commitments.

Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner understands that whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe has supplied “examples” of alleged new abuses in the penalty points system, rather than an exhaustive list of suspected abuses.

The audit team is now examining each of these allegations. Sgt McCabe has been asked to work with the Professional Standards Unit for a week to carry out this work.