Corrib 'rape' tape may have been tampered with, says Shatter

The Justice Minister has indicated that a tape recording allegedly of gardaí making controversial remarks about female protestors at the Corrib gas site, may have been tampered with.

An interim report into the conduct of five gardaí carried out by the Garda Ombudsman Commission has now been passed to the Minister's office.

It is understood the as-yet unpublished report is set to exonerate all five gardaí of any criminal activity.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter said he had not yet read the report, but said he had concerns about the tape.

"The report indicates the taped material received by the Ombudsman Commission from those who made allegations appears to have been tampered with before it was furnished to the Ombudsman Commission," he said.

"I gather one of the individuals who made a complaint…did not cooperate with the Ombudsman Commission."