GSOC – Bugging of Garda watchdog demands independent inquiry, special Dáil debate hears

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams TD said that the Government’s response to the scandal had been disappointing and that the most important question was whether the GSOC was bugged and, if so, by whom?

AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY into the potential bugging of the HQ of the Garda Síochána police watchdog requires an independent inquiry and publication of the counter-surveillance report that uncovered the operation, Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Justice) told a Dáil special debate on Tuesday evening.

Prior to the Dáil debate on Tuesday, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams TD said that the Government’s response to the scandal had been disappointing and that the most important question was whether the GSOC was bugged and, if so, by whom?

A Sunday newspaper report that the GSOC’s WiFi network and a phone used for conference calls in GSOC’s office had been tapped into led to a full statement by the police watchdog on Monday that said a sweep of its offices on the evenings of 23 to 27 September by a British-based “specialist security firm” and completed on 17 December “confirmed the existence of three technical and electronic anomalies”.

The police investigations body continued:

“These could not be conclusively explained and raised concerns among the investigation team in terms of the integrity of GSOC’s communications security. However, GSOC is satisfied that its databases were not compromised. Since the investigation concluded, we have been working to review and enhance our security systems in the light of what the investigation revealed.

“There was no evidence of Garda misconduct.

“The Commission decided to discontinue the investigation on the basis that no further action was necessary or reasonably practicable.

“Given the outcome of the investigation, GSOC recognised the need to reinforce the security of our telecommunications systems in the light of the specialist’s advice. We took the difficult decision not to report this matter to other parties,” it added. This was taken by the mainstream media as a reference to Justice Minister Alan Shatter and fuelled speculation as to why he wasn’t informed even though there is no obligation on the independent oversight body to do so.

“We did not wish to point fingers unnecessarily,” GSOC continued, “and we did not believe that widespread reporting would be conducive to public confidence. We took the decision not to report in good faith. We regret that now and this was communicated to the Minister for Justice and Equality by Simon O’Brien, Chairman of the Commission, this afternoon.”

After the statement by GSOC, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said that he had read it “very carefully” and noted in particular the declaration that there was no evidence of Garda misconduct but the police chief added:

“It is a cause of grave concern that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission’s statement contains a clear indication that An Garda Síochána was in some way suspected of complicity in this matter despite GSOC’s overall finding that the existence of technical and electronic anomalies could not be conclusively explained.”

• On Wednesday, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission was to give evidence to an Oireachtas committee on the episode.