Conversation on Stepaside revealed in interview

Questions about the Government decision to reopen Stepaside Garda Station in south Dublin have again been raised, amid fresh claims that the move was a political stroke, delivered by Transport Minister Shane Ross for his constituency.

The concern is over the possibility that politicians interfered with policing to serve their own ends.

Stepaside Garda Station was one of 139 closed during the financial upheaval that followed the 2009 recession. A yet-unpublished Department of Justice report recommended reopening six Garda stations. The report has yet to be seen by Cabinet or Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Nonetheless, the week Mr Varadkar was stepping into the role of Taoiseach in June, it was announced that Stepaside would reopen.