Man cannot see information behind warrant

A man whose Dublin premises was searched as part of a continuing Garda investigation into a serious fire attack on a plant of the former Quinn group is not entitled to see information supporting the Garda application for a search warrant, the High Court has ruled.

Mr Justice David Keane said disclosure of the document carried the risk, not just of compromising an ongoing criminal investigation, but also a potential risk to the life of an informant or informants “and, hence, cannot be lightly weighed”.

The information was sought by Francis McGuinness for a civil action against the Garda Commissioner and State over the search of his premises, a yard at Cloghran used to store haulage vehicles, on August 23, 2014. He is suing on grounds including alleged negligence, trespass, and breach of his constitutional rights.