Shock as ex-minister accused of child sex abuse

Gardaí will not approach a former government minister about allegations of child sexual abuse until they have completed the first phase of their investigation, senior sources said yesterday.

There was widespread shock when the allegations emerged yesterday as the long-time politician is widely respected in political circles and the public at large.

The allegations refer to historical cases of child sexual abuse, thought to date back to the 1980s and 1990s, before he entered Government.

It is understood a woman made a statement at a Garda station in recent months and that, at some stage, that complaint was referred to a national unit specialising in investigating alleged sex crimes, including historical ones.

The Garda National Protection Services Bureau, part of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, is based in Garda headquarters at Harcourt Square, Dublin.

Garda sources said the unit was at the “initial stages” of its investigation and cautioned against predicting the outcome of the bureau’s work.

It is thought that detectives have spoken to a number of people in relation to corroborating the claims. It is understood that some of these individuals since lodged their own complaint.

A Garda source said their work would continue for a number of months: “We have to conduct a full investigation, identify parties who might be in a position to corroborate, or not, and take statements from them.

“Unless the individual in question approaches us voluntarily to give a statement we will progress the investigation as far as we can before we contact the person.”

He said this may be by way of a voluntary interview, or failing that, under arrest, depending on the circumstances at the time.

When the process is completed, an investigation file will be sent to the DPP.

Officially, An Garda Síochána refused to confirm that any such investigation was under way.

“We don’t comment on media reports, other than to say that any complaints submitted to us will be fully investigated,” said a Garda spokesman.

There were also allegations that a complaint had been made ten years ago about this matter, but that it was not investigated.

A Garda source said they were not aware of that complaint, but assured the public that such complaints are investigated.

He said that anyone with information on this should bring it to the attention of gardaí.