Fennelly Report: Attorney general's views ‘substantially modified’

The apparent contradiction in her evidence to the commission adds an extra layer of questions over the phone tapping issue and alleged failures of communication that meant garda commissioner Martin Callinan and Justice Minister Alan Shatter were unaware of the scale and seriousness of what had taken place.

Attorney general Máire Whelan initially told the Fennelly Commission the garda phone-tapping scandal was “criminal activity” and in “complete violation of the law” before giving a substantially modified view.

The 300-page report into the crisis detailed the apparent U-turn from Ireland’s most senior legal expert, raising fresh concerns over the controversy at the centre of the investigation over which it said Justice Minister Alan Shatter and garda commissioner Martin Callinan were left in the dark.