Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
MINISTER FOR JUSTICE Alan Shatter has been urged to respond to a report today that claimed the Garda Síochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) headquarters in Dublin was bugged.
The Sunday Times reported today that a surveillance operation was used to hack into emails, wi-fi and phone systems at the Abbey Street building. It also claimed a speaker phone in a conference room was bugged.
Today, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesperson, Niall Collins, said Shatter should “make an urgent statement” on the matter.
“GSOC performs an important role in oversight of the gardaí, with access to very sensitive material; indeed, in Fianna Fáil we have been making the case for extending and deepening the powers available to the commission,” he commented.
The idea that someone or some organization is engaged in covertly monitoring the ombudsman is deeply unsettling and risks undermining public confidence.
“The minister needs to come forward and explain whether he has spoken to the Ombudsman and whether he was aware of this surveillance,” he continued. “If he was, he needs to explain why on earth this was going on. If he wasn’t we need to get answers very quickly on who is responsible.”
A spokesperson for GSOC told TheJournal.ie they had no comment to make on the matter.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Name and shame them. So I can inspect them myself on the weekend.
@Euro McPúnty: if there is solid evidence …name and shame
@MrJohne: name and shame me hole where is the shame in trying to make a few bob to sustain your family ? This panicdemic has yez all brainwashed. Anyone remember the Cheltenham hullabaloo or the Italian rugby fans ? Where was the massive outbreak after 20,000 people travelling in close proximity entered the country and Dublin in particular. Do the maths for jazes sake
@John Brendan Mullen: btw, have they checked the Dáil bar yet. ?
@John Brendan Mullen: That one flew right over your head.
@John Brendan Mullen: That statement assumes all those infected would need to show symptoms.
@John Brendan Mullen: Are you an ostrich – I know several people who went to Cheltenham and caught Covid and also infected friends
@Joe Moore: nah, that was for Euro McPunty
@Thomas: I’m simply pointing out that they probably all had it but had no symptoms. I’m a heavy smoker, and be jazes, I had a couple of tough weeks of it but I still want to go to the boozer. My test results today showed no more antibodies so I can catch it again apparently. I personally would prefer to live a normal life and if it’s the death of me, so be it.
@John Brendan Mullen: have you found the joke yet?
@Grainnewhale: Ostriches have brains so he couldn’t possibly be one.
@Bennett blaster: of course I got Euros joke about inspecting the boozers himself. My reply was for Mr Johne for his solid evidence name and shame comments. Keep with the programme
@Grainnewhale: Any winners?
@Leonard Barry: Never said a truer word!
@Barry Tallon: Just a few intensive care cases – can hardly be described as winners
@John Brendan Mullen: Yes they had Barley Sandwiches and Soup of the Day was The Cream of Sumyunguy
@John Brendan Mullen: You are spot on John Brendan. I’m living in Cork City where the test centres have closed. Yet thousands of idiots are walking around everywhere wearing face masks. The radio announcements are brainwashing and terrorising people all day, everyday. The remnants of the virus is in Dublin where two thirds of the population reside. The virus does not affect my mental health but the government restrictions and the misguided idiots wearing face masks, / chin straps sure as hell does. When will there be transparency and accountability from our politicians? Particularly the ones not in government?
@William Walsh: less than a third of the population reside in Dublin, get your facts right. P.s buy some masks
@John Brendan Mullen:
Your memory is clearly impacted.
What is the logic behind serving food with drinks? How does that make it safer?
@Rory Browne: apparently it’s to stop people pub crawling. You’re not going to head to another pub after a meal just to eat another meal.
@Rory Browne: It doesn’t. Only places that serve food can open. By law (Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962), in order for an establishment to be counted as such a place, it needs to serve a meal worth 5 shillings, which is 9 euro.
In short, it’s so pubs can be counted as a restaurant for the purposes of Covid-19 restrictions.
@mr magoo: then why the 1hr45min time limit? That encourages people pub crawling instead of staying in one pub. Their policies don’t make any sense.
@mr magoo: soup in one boozer, sandwich in the next one, coffee to wash it down in the third and ice cream in the fourth.
@Rory Browne: it cause pubs ask could they reopennas restaurants n so why have to serve food
@Rory Browne: you totally missed the point restaurants are open with certain rules and restrictions and owners of licenced premises are allowed to open as restaurants and comply with the same rules as restaurants.
Unfortunately there are some in Ireland who cannot drink responsibly and more who cannot act responsibly when drinking in pubs and these pubs should remain closed and those acting irresponsibly now or in the past, owners, managers, staff and customers are the ones responsible for the pubs being closed.
Just let ALL the Pubs open, that way there will be plenty of place for distancing .
@Eugene Comaskey: I agree, you should see Westport this evening and indeed the last few weeks. Those few establishments open are rammed with large Q’s outside. Totally undermining the objective
If there all breaking the rules which they are and no cases of covid from the pubs/restaurant what’s the problem open the pubs
Close them. end of!
@Jonnie Marre: I agree. Evidence all over the world pointing to bars being major factor in covid transmission. Feel bad for the owners and workers but that is the reality. Government should do more financially to help them. They didn’t hesitate pumping billions into banks.
Either close them all or open them all simple as. It’s a useless rule anyway.
I sat in a pub last week the only 1 opened in a large enough town there was every type of lad and lassie in it that wouldn’t mingle if all the pubs were open and the food didn’t stop them from fighting.
Having everyone in 1 pub is far worse than a few in several pubs.
@OhToBeARossie: as long as they don’t knock my pint over I’ll spectate. Nice to have live entertainment
At this stage they should just let pubs open. Its about a lot more then the few people just wanting to get drunk. Many bars in smaller areas will never open their doors again at this rate, not to mention jobs lost. The figure in Dublin alone was really high. A lot of Ireland is smaller communities where the local bar really is the only outlet for some people. Maybe it should be different, but its a reality for a whole lot of people. Its splitting hairs at this stage looking to see if people ate something or not.
I’m assuming we have the necessary resources and personal to be dealing with actual crimes, cos it seems to me like with the hospitals when covid hit and every other medical condition was pushed to the side, that the gardai seem to be told to focus on people not wearing masks and monitor pubs…..id like to see how the numbers are balancing when it comes to investigating and tackling actual crime as well
They’ll be demanding to pump the contents of our stomach next . No food no PUP. Go quarantine as you didn’t take the antidote .
@Isabel Oliveira: That’s exactly where we are heading at this stage. My body my choice will be a historical term that means nothing in a couple of years
@AOL: nonsense, from the pair of ye.
@Sid: Good one Sid
Wait until they announce the pubs wont open till the 24th…world war 3 pending.
Open all the pubs…..ffs
It’ll be Jan before the pubs open. Mark my words. U heard it here first..fact. the government are on hols now for the next couple of months. We’ll be into flu season,.then into the festive season..not a hope in 2020.
@George McCarthy: Well let’s hope you’re wrong, If the government don’t find more ways of generating revenue this country and lot of its people will see more difficult times.
What about Camden Street there are a few pubs open there 2 mins from Kevin Street Garda Station and I doubt very much if they are selling food.
There’s a pub in Carlow that’s gets the food from the chippers next door and is brought in from the back ally way. You can stay as long as you want how are they let get away with it
@Ollie kehoe: What are the chips like ?
@Ollie kehoe: snitches get stitches.
@Ollie kehoe: Most importantly, is the Guinness decent?
@Ollie kehoe: I’m surprised more pubs don’t do it, would get more people back to work and generate more tax revenue.
@Ollie kehoe: sounds like a good spot fair play to them feeding their punters
No danger them out catching real criminals, pathetic
Amazing how €9 can prevent you from contacting covid. Strange indeed
Any of them in roscommon asking for a friend how likes drink but not food.
A hotel in North Swords paying lip service to the regulations. If your face fits your in, if it dosen’t your not. Dropped hundreds of euro there never again
And what is going to happen to these pubs… just because you have eaten something …does this stop you getting Covid19!!
That’s what happens when you don’t pay them off
biggest load of BS …food or pint makes no difference with covid you get it or you don’t ….food is not going to make any difference I would love to know what eegit thought this one up …
They’re not looking too hard, obviously.
have your say