GSOC the big loser as gardaí escape scrutiny

John Cooke’s lack of curiosity has hindered the bugging report, writes Special Correspondent Michael Clifford.

NOTHING to see here, folks. Move along now, please. So goes the general reaction to the publication of the Cooke report. The inquiry, headed up by John Cooke, a retired judge, came to the conclusion that there was no definitive evidence that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission offices had been bugged.

Among the Government, gardaí, and elements of the media, the report is presented as proof that there was no surveillance of GSOC, and certainly not by an element of An Garda Síochána. In reality, Cooke has raised further suspicions that GSOC was actually under some form of surveillance.