Journalists Investigated: GSOC powers need to be reined in

Michael Clifford recommends a data access system similar to the UK, with notice to affected parties

ARE you related by marriage or otherwise to a reporter? Do one of your friends work for the fourth estate? Are you related to a member of An Garda Siochána? If you fall into any of the above categories, you may be in danger of having your phone records accessed, the details of your private contacts parsed over and analysed quite possibly on the flimsiest of bases.

The blowing storm over the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) accessing the phone records of journalists without their knowledge raises fundamental questions. It has been revealed that GSOC has accessed the records of at least two reporters. That case relates to a complaint from an associate of the late model, Katy French, who died in 2007. At least eight inquiries are being conducted by GSOC into alleged leaks from the force.