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THE NATIONAL UNION of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed concern over the accessing of journalists’ mobile phone records during a criminal inquiry into a third party.
The Irish Times reported today that Garda watchdog Gsoc studied the records of two journalists as part of an investigation into the leaking of information to the media.
The paper said the oversight body launched the inquiry after a friend of deceased model Katy French lodged a complaint about coverage of her death.
NUJ secretary Séamus Dooley told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the union is seeking to meet Gsoc over the issue.
“What is unusual about this power is that the journalist is not told in advance and that is a major concern that we would have,” he said.
There is a veil of secrecy about this. I’ve been contacted by a number of journalists who have raised concerns about this.
Gsoc have not made any comment. I will be looking for a meeting with [them].
Granted new powers
Dooley added that the case could lead to people thinking twice about talking to journalists.
He said “the accessing of the data of journalists is something which should only happen in extreme circumstances” and that Gsoc should have to prove their case.
“The notion that, without any access to a court or justifying it, Gsoc can go in secretly without the knowledge of the journalist concerned and get this information is really worrying,” he added.
The watchdog was granted powers last year to access journalists’ record, if required, during serious investigations.
Gsoc contacted at least three gardaí last year to inform them that a study of phone records had shown they were in contact with the reporters, according to The Irish Times.
French, a 24-year-old model, passed away in 2007 after collapsing at a friend’s house four days earlier.
A postmortem examination found traces of cocaine in her body.
Gsoc said it had no comment to make.
Additional reporting by Daragh Brophy
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They should need a warrant for this. It’s ridiculous that if a Garda officer searches xyz without a warrant and a citizen complains, they’d, ironically, probably be hauled before GSOC and disciplined, but GSOC themselves can do it no problem? Just because you work for a watchdog does not mean you are incorruptible and will never abuse your powers. They should be subject to the exact same safeguards as everyone else.
Your right . But who watches the watchers More watchers????
Il do.it…
If they get a warrant a judge watches them…it’s not complicated. If the request is out of order he/she says “no, you can’t have a warrant”, end of story.
Ryan, I believe GSOC does have to apply for a warrant the same way.
The Garda Síochána (Amendment) Act 2015 amended 2 existing pieces of legislation to this effect, putting GSOC in the same position as the Garda Síochána to make an application for authorisation to intercept communications. In effect, GSOC was plugged into the existing legal framework for interception and its (limited) safeguards.
Meanwhile, it’s a bit strange for the Secretary of the NUJ to tell Morning Ireland “What is unusual about this power is that the journalist is not told in advance and that is a major concern that we would have”.
As he must well know, it’s not at all unusual for the target of authorised surveillance not to be told in advance. That’s how it’s always worked.
Makes you wonder how many things happen ‘coincidentally’; ie listening to phonecalls illegally, setting up a convenient circumstance, and no one ever finding out about it!
Big Brother eh!!!
Big fu(king eejits more like.
This GSOC crowd are turning into some bunch of Cowboys, they need to be taken to task with all this underhand carry on
Another one of Fanny Fitzy’s quiet tuesday tweaks to the law. Everything about GSOC is concerning.
A corrupt unsupervised authoritarian police force.
Who? GSOC? They aren’t a police force? You commenting on wrong article?
A hunt on whistle-blowers, by those who regulate the police force. .. Loving this new Ireland.. Not
Allegedly regulate the police, they have successfully prosecuted less criminals within the force each year then when the guards investigated themselves, an incompetent group, set up to fail, that neither the guards or complainants have confidence in.
GSOC can’t (and more then likely won’t) do its job, the inspectorate is ignored and senior management remains a mass of political appointees.
Somebody must have the power to tract terrorists and other criminals. They should be able to view emails and phone records of SF/IRA plus Bertie and friends. These economic terrorists were responsible for more deaths from suicide of ordinary decent people than Armed terrorists in the last decade in Ireland. We need whistleblowers who were lobbyists to let people know how all the Brown Envelopes were delivered, what was the purpose, and by whom. Just start at the local councillors.
Great to see the NUJs wings clipped at last. Too long a law unto themselves.
who will watch you Mark.
I will
And you can watch me watching Mark and
funnily enough it was leaked to a journalist by whom no one knows as there was no evidence of a crime or don’t you remember!
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