An investigation into the mass recording of telephone calls in Garda stations for decades has found the practice wasn’t lawful, and an “almost total ignorance” among senior Gardai of the secret tapes.
The Fennelly Commission says the recording of 999 and emergency related calls is actually good practice but legislation is needed to continue it.
The Government says the report reinforces its decision to undertake a root and branch review of Gardaí.
In 2014 the Attorney General informed the Taoiseach that garda stations were routinely recording calls in and out and had been for decades.
The discovery was made as part of Ian Bailey’s case against the state for his arrest over the Sophie Tuscon du Plantier murder.
Two days later Martin Callinan had resigned as Garda commissioner and the Fennelly Commission of Investigation was established.
It’s final report now says the practices of recording calls was unlawful but there was PROBABLY no significant misuse of information, saying one of the most surprising findings was the “almost total ignorance” to the recordings among senior gardai.
And it says “there was no Garda system of snooping, spying or intrusion into private life”.
But it says the mere existence meant the potential for abuse and recommends legislation and clear policy for what’s to be recorded, retained and accessed.
