Supreme Court agrees to hear Garda Commissioner's appeal over seizure of journalist's phone

The case is part of an investigation into an alleged violent incident at a repossessed house in Falsk, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon

The Supreme Court said that the Commissioner, in seeking the appeal, had argued that the case concerns the interaction between criminal investigations utilising search warrants and "so-called journalistic privilege" asserted by Mr Corcoran. File picture

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal against a refusal to allow gardaí carry out a limited examination of a mobile phone seized from a journalist's home as part of an investigation into an alleged violent incident at a repossessed house in Co. Roscommon.

The court agreed to hear the appeal after holding that it raises important issues concerning the laws allowing the authorities obtain warrants to search journalists' homes, and access to their equipment and phones.