Attorney General accused of ‘panicked’ response to recorded Garda calls

The Government’s chief lawyer, Attorney General Máire Whelan, was accused of being “panicked, alarmist, and over-reactive” when she raised concerns over the recording of phone calls in Garda stations, the Dáil heard yesterday.

During Leaders’ Questions, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin made very direct criticisms of Ms Whelan when speaking in the wake of the second Fennelly Commission report, which found the recording of phone calls in Garda stations to be unlawful.

Mr Martin said Ms Whelan’s panic led to the departure of then garda Commissioner Martin Callinan in 2014, despite acting appropriately on this matter.