Lenihan: Gardaí can probe claims of ministerial cocaine taking

The new Garda chief should follow up any leads on contentious claims a Government minister admitted taking cocaine, the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said today.

But Mr Lenihan insisted it would be a “hazardous” inquiry because he believes the highly-publicised allegations have no basis.

Journalist Justine Delaney Wilson made the allegations in a recently-published book and again during a two-part documentary aired on RTÉ.

Mr Lenihan said recently-appointed Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy should act if there was any credible evidence.

“I think it would be a very hazardous investigation for the Commissioner to embark upon, but of course if he has any leads he has my full authority to pursue them,” he said.

The author and reporter said she has since wiped a digital recording of the alleged confession from the senior Government politician in Buswells Hotel, yards from the Dáil.

The State broadcaster is investigating the claims after coming under pressure from politicians to substantiate them.

Mr Lenihan, speaking at a joint press conference with the recently-appointed Commissioner Murphy on the force’s new fingerprint system, said he had no credible evidence to ask the Garda chief to conduct an inquiry.

“There doesn’t seem to be a great deal of substratum to them when they were looked at in greater detail,” he said.

Ms Delaney Wilson, who is on holiday in New Zealand, said she destroyed the digital recording because she felt threatened by the media attention, according to her solicitor, Karyn Hardy.

Mr Lenihan insisted there was no basis for the highly-publicised allegations but added he would act on any “credible material” put before him.

“Clearly, I know if the Commissioner has any leads on any minister he wouldn’t hesitate to follow them up,” he said.

“I have every confidence in that. I have no doubt our current Commissioner, like his predecessor, will suffer no inhibition in dealing with crime from whatever source.”

He added: “If material is put before me of any credible character of course I will deal with that material when it is put before me, and that’s how I would always operate as Minister for Justice. There is no credible material before me.”