Sir, – Regarding your Editorial (February 11th) calling for “An independent investigation” into this matter; I’m surprised that neither you, nor the range of commentators addressing the “bugging” of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and the office’s relationships with the Minister and the Garda Síochána, has asked how the story was somehow “leaked” to a British newspaper in the first place. If public confidence is to be served, perhaps an investigation should address internal leaks as well as external bugging. – Yours, etc,
TONY O’BRIEN,
Belgrave Road,
Monkstown, Co Dublin.
Sir, – On the matter of the surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, I was very disquieted to see the Taoiseach said, “Most importantly, Section 80 subsection 5 of the Garda Síochána Act requires that GSOC would report unusual matters or matters of exceptional importance to the Minister for Justice and that’s a fundamental issue that GSOC needs to explain to the Minister for Justice.”
In fact, Section 80 subsection 5 of the Garda Síochána Act says: “The Ombudsman Commission may make any other reports that it considers appropriate for drawing to the Minister’s attention matters that have come to its notice and that, in its opinion, should, because of their gravity or other exceptional circumstances, be the subject of a special report to the Minister.”
There is no such requirement as the Taoiseach is reported to have claimed. So, why would the Taoiseach make such a claim so forcefully to the public? – Yours, etc,
OLIVER MORAN,
St Anne’s Drive,
Montenotte, Cork.
Sir, – Why did Garda Ombudsman apologise to Alan Shatter?
The Taoiseach was incorrect about the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission having to inform the Minister. The Commission is not obliged under law to inform the Minister. That it didn’t speaks volumes.
The question that needs to be asked now is did the State sanction the bugging of the offices of the Garda Ombudsman Commission? – Yours, etc,
RÓISÍN LAWLESS,
Rath Chairn, Co na Mí.
Sir, – Even Inspector Clouseau knows you start an investigation by identifying those who would have a motive. So why, as a former inspector, is Commissioner Callinan getting upset that Garda involvement in surveillance was considered?
The shortlist of those who would have both the motive and resources to eavesdrop on the Ombudsman’s office is small. Coupled with the Commissioner’s distaste for scrutiny shown at the PAC, it does not inspire confidence. – Yours, etc,
QUENTIN GARGAN,
Coomanore,
Bantry, Co Cork.
Sir, – Charlie Talbot (February 11th) need have no fear about who is watching the watchers on this 30th anniversary of 1984 . Who needs big brother when the little brothers of the social media rabblement are there to issue FOIs, look up IP addresses and search the WHOIS section of domain name registration websites to ferret out the unpolitically correct.
The Government and the Garda Ombudsman do not know the half of it when it comes to surveillance. – Yours, etc,
ULTAN Ó BROIN,
Half Moon Bay,
California,
US.
Sir, – The attitude displayed by the chairman of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission on RTÉ news, made one wonder about the commission’s impartiality.
In his statement, he concluded by saying, “We found no evidence of Garda misconduct and we shut down the investigation”.
Considering that statement one can only conclude that the Commission was of the opinion that its office was bugged by the Garda Síochána and when they discovered that was not the case, they lost interest in discovering the authors of the alleged bugging. – Yours, etc,
TONY FAGAN,
Bellefield Road,
Enniscorthy,
Co Wexford.
Sir, – Am I right in thinking that the GSOC is being taken to task for not whistleblowing on what may have been suspected misconduct by members of An Garda Síochána? Did I miss something recently? if not the irony is almost hilarious. – Is mise,
PAUL CULLEN,
Knockabawn,
Rush,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – How can the GSOC exonerate Garda involvement unless it has identified the perpetrator of the alleged infiltration? Was it blind-sided by journalistic revelations? – Yours, etc,
ELIZABETH SENIOR,
Linden Square,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The Garda Ombudsman’s office deals, almost exclusively, with complaints against the Garda Síochána. The identity of groups, allegedly, making attempts to hack into its IT must, by definition be very limited. Head of that list though must be the Garda Síochána.
Why, then, is the Commissioner so surprised that this is the general perception of events? Instead of going on TV to express his hurt/ astonishment/ disbelief, will he not simply prove to us, the citizenry, that we are mistaken? – Yours, etc,
MAIRIN de BURCA ,
Upper Fairview Avenue,
Marino,
Dublin 3.