Texts show Alan Shatter sought files for case against inquiry

Text messages and letters sent by Alan Shatter, the former justice minister, reveal he began building his case against the Guerin statutory inquiry into alleged garda malpractice as far back as July of last year.

Officials in the Department of Justice and for the new minister, Frances Fitzgerald, on several occasions last year said Mr Shatter was seeking files relating to the inquiry for the period when he was in office.

The Irish Examiner has obtained details of text messages and letters sent by Mr Shatter.