High Court strikes blow for our rights

AN important blow has been struck for democracy by yesterday’s High Court decision to overturn a Morris Tribunal ruling that Deputy Brendan Howlin was required to provide it with confidential information regarding alleged garda corruption in Co Donegal.

There is no denying this is a landmark verdict and one that will ultimately transcend the legal consequences of the investigation itself and which has far-reaching implications in terms of the wider public interest.

At issue was a ruling by the tribunal chairman directing the Labour deputy to hand over all documents he had received in relation to allegations that three members of the gardaí including two senior members may have acted with impropriety.