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Shatter on GSOC: "My only interest is that we get at the truth"

The Justice Minister is facing questions over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Garda Ombudsman.

Updated 8.45pm

JUSTICE MINISTER ALAN Shatter was grilled by TDs and Senators over the ongoing GSOC surveillance controversy today – and said that his only interest “is that we get at the truth”.

He was speaking before the Oireachtas Public Service Oversight and Petitions Committee, a day after telling the Dáil last night that there is “no evidence at all” of the offices of the Garda Ombudsman Commission having been placed under surveillance.

He also said that he will give the committee a document outlining the differences between the Verrimus report and the subsequent peer review by RITS.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD said in the Dáil this evening that he is calling for a full, independent inquiry into the GSOC controversy.

As one of those involved in negotiating a new dispensation for policing in the north – and I don’t wish to compare the old Gardaí with the RUC, because that is not the case – I have to say that police investigating police is unacceptable.

This afternoon, Minister Shatter asserted that he has “been the subject of political attack on this issue”, and that he has been criticised for being “too close” to the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan.

He also told the committee that he thinks it is “absolutely right” that GSOC had an appropriate security firm undertake a security sweep, and check their office to ensure that their systems are secure.

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Asked if he authorised surveillance of GSOC, Shatter said: “Of course not.” Later, he said that this suggestion was in the realms of “total fantasy”.

It emerged that he had not asked the Garda Commissioner about if surveillance had taken place, and the Minister said he had not asked the Defence Forces had they been bugging GSOC because there is ‘no evidence’ that they had.

Judicial review

Much of the questioning centred on the judicial review into the situation, which Shatter said that the Terms of Reference will be finalised tonight.

He explained that they are being drawn up by the Attorney General and will be agreed on by Cabinet.

He told the committee that his “only interest is that we get at the truth”, and that he tells the truth based on the information that he is given.

Leak

According to Minister Shatter, the chair of GSOC expressed concerns to him about the fact there was a leak of information to the Sunday Times.

He said that GSOC are investigating the leak internally, and he understands they have sought legal advice, although he has not received a written brief on this.

It is a very serious issue for GSOC.

Phone signal

On the issue of a signal that was picked up on a phone in the GSOC offices by Verrimus, Shatter said that the RITS report he received has a theory on this.

Shatter said that RITS theorised that a signal that was picked up wasn’t the finding of an external phone call.

He said that RITS suggested that when you sent a signal down a phone of this nature – a phone used for conference calls – there is apparently a phone console at the reception area in GSOC which the phone receptionists would use to distribute calls around the office.

The RITS theory is that what happened was the signal went down the phone, and to the console, causing a reaction where the signal bounced back up and caused the phone to ring, said Shatter.

Wifi anomalies

Shatter raised the issue of anomalies in the wifi system at GSOC’s offices that there flagged in the report from Verrimus.

He said that he does think that perhaps in “anxiety”, that members of GSOC “may have prematurely commenced that investigation” into possible garda involvement into this.

He said that “at that particular time” he wasn’t aware of what it was that indicated garda involvement of any nature, and he is still not aware.

I thought it would have been reasonable before they commenced investigating to have them take that time and see can something identified.

The Minister also spoke on the issue of not mentioning the IMSI catcher in the Dáil. He has been advised that this equipment is available online, and is not just technology that can be acquired by governments.

When asked if IMSI technology could be used for purposes other than surveillance, Minister Shatter said that this is beyond his technical knowledge.

He also noted that RITS said in their report that it “may not be IMSI technology at all” and that instead what was detected may be a booster system with regard to telephone networks.

He said that when speaking in the Dail on the issue, he summarised the threats, the conclusion of GSOC in relation to them, and the ultimate outcome of GSOC’s investigation. The IMSI catcher was not mentioned.

“I thought that was the correct and appropriate way to proceed, and it was not in my interest in any shape or form to mislead anyone. Why would I do so?” he said.

Second opinion

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Shatter said that he is not aware of GSOC seeking additional resources or a second opinion on the issue.

He said that his department would supply extra resources if GSOC needed extra expertise in areas relevant to this situation.

The Minister said that there were a lot of “could have beens” around who could have been involved with the anomalies picked up in the report.

But it “remains a mystery” to him as to why the decision was taken to investigate the gardaí as a result of the report.

Shatter said that there was some misunderstanding around why the Verrimus sweep took place.

He told the committee that there seemed to be a misunderstanding by two employees that GSOC was under surveillance and that their security system had already been breached.

“This wasn’t true,” he pointed out, but said that this misunderstanding “fed into the Verrimus report”.

He said Simon O’Brien, chairman of GSOC, believed the sweep was a general security sweep, but that Verrimus “were led to believe when they commenced that work that there was already a breach of security in GSOC when in fact there hadn’t been”.

Garda confidential recipient

In a separate development today, Shatter today sacked the Garda confidential recipient Oliver Connolly over controversial comments he is alleged to have made in a conversation with a garda whistleblower.

Read: ‘Like the fox designing the chicken coop’: Opposition says Shatter has undermined the GSOC review

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88 Comments
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    Mute Laura Doherty
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    May 20th 2014, 1:11 PM

    He’s an absolute eejit if he thinks people will vote him Taoiseach

    296
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    Mute IrishGreens87
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    May 20th 2014, 1:27 PM

    Knowing this country. We probably will and we’ll complain about again.

    53
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    Mute Terry McSweeney
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    May 20th 2014, 1:41 PM

    its like asking me do I still want to be Batman.
    There was a time that I really did and then realised that ship had sailed so the best i could hope for his sidekick robin.
    Hes already been robin and in more ways than one.

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    Mute Pasceasy
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    May 20th 2014, 2:30 PM

    He doesn’t giv a flying shite bout being the next Taioseach or losing the election.. The lifetime pension is ready for him..

    110
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    Mute eamonn boylan
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    May 20th 2014, 1:21 PM

    The man has completely lost the plot!!

    198
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    Mute Robbie Redmond
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    May 21st 2014, 11:12 AM

    What an Ars#hole

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    Mute Montys Moonshine
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    May 20th 2014, 1:08 PM

    Hahaha, there’s just no stopping this lad

    185
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    Mute Michael
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    May 20th 2014, 1:32 PM

    Can I have some of whatever he’s on? Make the world look totally different!

    110
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    Mute Damian Moran
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    May 20th 2014, 1:37 PM

    Well that gave me a laugh .
    Bye bye Labour
    Bye bye Gilmore

    134
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    Mute PaulM1878
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    May 20th 2014, 1:10 PM

    He’s deluded.

    147
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    Mute John Ward
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    May 20th 2014, 1:12 PM

    “Gilmore in bullish mood”?
    Is that a typo for bullshit!

    146
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    Mute Enda Curtin
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    May 20th 2014, 1:12 PM

    Eamon; please do the country a favour and take a long walk in a quicksand pit. You’d be of much more use to us there.

    124
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    Mute the flying picket
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    May 20th 2014, 1:15 PM

    “The madness of king Eamon”.

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    Mute Mert Lawwill
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    May 20th 2014, 1:25 PM

    The only thing that Gilmore ever looked after was himself.

    He’s a two faced liar who sold the ordinary working class people promises that he knew he would never fulfil.

    All in the name of lining his pockets.

    94
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    Mute Mark L'ingarde
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    May 20th 2014, 1:20 PM

    When I was 10 I wanted to be godzilla. Looks like we will both be disappointed

    92
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    Mute Emilio
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    May 20th 2014, 1:13 PM

    Gilmore? Taoiseach? What is this ‘Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There’ ?

    81
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    May 20th 2014, 1:28 PM

    I really think this man has lost the plot,….he had a bad couple of months?…..Irish people have had a bad few years!

    72
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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    May 20th 2014, 1:30 PM

    Eamon Gilmore has made a lot if empty promises, one more recently was his promise to the family of Matthew Fitzpatrick, to , on their behalf investigate his suspicious death in Germany. He told the family, he would take a ” personal interest ” in their case, but that was , the last they heard from him. This is decent Irish family , who in their hour of need turned to the people who’s job , in my humble opinion is the welfare of it’s citizens , for help, and received nothing. Now breaking promice over water charges is one thing, but playing politics , and giving lip service, to a grieving family, is entirely another. Will someone ask Mr Gilmore, what if anything he has done, if nothing, will he honour his promise, to these citizens of the state, he is honour bound by his high office to protect. The sooner the better before a rumour, that he is afraid to upset our new landlord Ms Angela Merkel, by questioning the work of her police.

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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    May 20th 2014, 2:06 PM

    What a fool, what a sad deluded fool.
    Do the country a favour Gilmore, f**k off and take your party of failure with you.

    64
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    Mute Les Rock
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    May 20th 2014, 1:34 PM

    After this weekend he’ll be lucky if hes still a politician

    64
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    Mute Gerald Gallagher
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    May 20th 2014, 1:54 PM

    At this stage a Physiatric Assessment is required as this man has totaly lost his mind

    49
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    Mute Sean Barry
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    May 20th 2014, 2:05 PM

    Ah come on, he is surely having a laugh. The most useless, incompetent gombeen ever to enter the Dail. Get rid of him quickly before he destroys what’s left of our country.

    48
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    Mute Allan O'Shea
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    May 20th 2014, 2:01 PM

    I don’t know why the bailout is referred to as such. It’s a massive loan which had been forced upon our nation. There’s a big difference. It makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. And FG Ff and labour don’t care.

    47
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    Mute funkytown
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    May 20th 2014, 1:31 PM

    The drugs dont work eamon, or maybe they do.

    46
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    Mute Dave cullen
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    May 20th 2014, 1:33 PM

    Deludedville is a place after all!

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    Mute TOP CAT
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    May 20th 2014, 1:29 PM

    Imagine my surprise when I went to the Circus at the weekend.
    Their head clown was called Eam*n Gilm*re…..

    43
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    Mute Keith Boland
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    May 20th 2014, 2:09 PM

    Does Gilmore watch that film
    Happy Gilmore before he goes to bed every night , as all he’s doing is same as the film happy Gilmore making a mochary out of himself . Gilmore for Taoiseach keep dreaming eamon not even your mep last night backed u wen asked does she think ul be gone if labour perform badly on fri , coarse u will & likewise with traitor Costello & rest of labour liars & Fine Gael traitors .

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    Mute mick dornan
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    May 20th 2014, 1:53 PM

    Not a hope fool

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    Mute Al Picino
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    May 20th 2014, 1:55 PM

    Fool

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    Mute Snorre Sturleson
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    May 20th 2014, 2:52 PM

    we want Eamon we want Eamon……NOT

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    Mute Richard Keogh
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    May 20th 2014, 11:11 PM

    He’s got as much chance of becoming Taoiseach as I have of becoming Pope. It’s so delusional at this stage that I’m beginning to think he exists in an alternate reality and actually believes the rubbish he spouts.

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    Mute simon shewster
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    May 20th 2014, 4:34 PM

    He’s some man to waffle in fairness to him, can’t even answer simple questions. Absolute vermin that’s all I can say.

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 20th 2014, 5:50 PM

    What an awful man.

    23
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    Mute Seon Kelly
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    May 20th 2014, 2:38 PM

    To the people in the journal that are so happy with there amazing exclusive. labour are low so they offer you an interview, you snap it up and promote labour as a result. Will you have all politicians interviewed election week? You make me want to delete my app.

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    Mute BPA Free Paper Rolls
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    May 20th 2014, 2:48 PM

    Beginning to think O’Brien has his editors in the journal , renaming independent journal :-)

    18
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    Mute mecanicalrat
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    May 21st 2014, 12:01 AM

    Agreed been getting a lot of labour pop ups on this site recently…

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    Mute Martin Smith
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    May 20th 2014, 8:08 PM

    should explain why shatter is in line for €74000 serverance pay for resiging as justice minister as reported on other media sites today……..

    22
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    Mute LesBehan
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    May 20th 2014, 11:54 PM

    Ground control to Eamo Gilmore.

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    Mute Brendan Boyd
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    May 20th 2014, 1:10 PM

    An impressive showing. History will judge him well.

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    Mute Enda Curtin
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    May 20th 2014, 1:13 PM

    Huh??!!

    70
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    Mute Montys Moonshine
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    May 20th 2014, 1:16 PM

    Drunk?

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    Mute Thomas Dooly
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    May 20th 2014, 1:47 PM

    He’ll be thrown down a well

    36
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    Mute susanna smyth
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    May 20th 2014, 2:42 PM

    If he’s thinks he’s in with a chance he’s even more out of touch than we thought

    44
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    Mute Ciarraioch
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    May 20th 2014, 11:30 PM

    Brendan – Are you a delusional Stickie Labour person too ?
    Presumably Eamonn knows a good bit about printing ?
    He was part of the Organisation in Gardiner Place in Dublin , that had its own $50 bogus Printing Plates and Machine !
    He may well go into something like that in the future , to supplement his Big Fat Ministerial Pension , when he too loses , or does not contest his seat , in the final moments of the existence of The Labour Party ?

    15
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    Mute Frank Reynolds
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    May 21st 2014, 8:20 AM

    Eamonn has told us,long time ago,that he did NOT know that printer was there. Pat and P De R did not know,nor did Kathleen Lynch or her husband—so there

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    Mute Viking
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    May 21st 2014, 3:02 AM

    Didn’t Hitler talk the same sh*te in his bunker as the Russians rolled in?

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    Mute Brehon Law
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    May 21st 2014, 8:25 AM

    T-shark! He won’t even be in the Labour Party as its doubtful it will exist after the next general erection – pun intended as all elections are f&@#-ups by the general populace.

    3
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    Mute walter white
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    May 21st 2014, 4:22 AM

    Hey Eamon i know a guy who knows a guy that can sort this out for you..

    3
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    Mute walter white
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    May 21st 2014, 4:21 AM

    il give you a job Eamon me and soul goodman are looking for a few corrupt people in power

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    Mute walter white
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    May 21st 2014, 4:25 AM

    hi Eamon i know a good man called soul goodman he can get you out if you need out..

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    Mute Johnny
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    May 21st 2014, 10:05 AM

    3 times now you’ve attempted pretty much the same joke. Just let it go…

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