An item in this column last week, written by Jim Dunne, referred to an incident that took place in Cyprus in 1996. It stated incorrectly that the then-Minister for Defence, Mr Sean Barrett, had "taken umbrage" at remarks made to him by a garda, and that he had complained to the Garda Commissioner who then went to the High Court to establish his right to move garda personnel.
In fact, Mr Barrett did not complain about the incident and never had any intention of doing so. The Commissioner received a report from garda personnel which recommended that the garda involved be repatriated. And it was the garda, through the Garda Representative Association, who initiated court proceedings for an injunction preventing the Commissioner from repatriating him.
The errors are regretted.