Probe into Michael Noonan’s handling of claims

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan has told the former Fine Gael member who made a complaint over Finance Minister Michael Noonan’s handling of health service abuse claims 20 years ago that the allegation will be examined.

The private secretary to the Garda commissioner, Superintendent Frank Walsh, confirmed the move in a letter to the former Waterford councillor Garry O’Halloran, after receiving correspondence from him earlier this week.

As previously reported, Mr O’Halloran wrote to Commissioner O’Sullivan on Monday asking for gardaí to “conduct an investigation into the conduct” during the 1990s of then health minister, Mr Noonan, as well as south eastern health board officials.