The Garda Síochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has interviewed two senior Garda officers and is seeking to quiz at least one more after their phone numbers were found on the mobile phone records of two journalists that were secretly checked by GSOC.
Of the three, two were sanctioned to speak to the media at the time.
The Irish Times has also learned GSOC and the Garda are carrying out seven investigations into the work of journalists, and how they sourced information.
Many of the stories were reports damaging to the Garda, Government and other public figures.
The National Union of Journalists has expressed its concern, describing as “worrying” the actions of GSOC in accessing the reporters’ phone records without their knowledge or consent.
It pointed out that no complaint had been made about the two newspaper journalists and that possible leaks by Garda members were being investigated rather than the reporters.
Unknown Garda members
The investigation was begun when a friend of deceased model
Katy French
(24) made a complaint to GSOC alleging unknown Garda members had leaked information about her death and related matters.
In order to establish if any gardaí were in contact with the journalists, their mobile phone records were accessed.
However, of the three gardaí contacted by GSOC, none were involved in the investigation of Ms French’s death in 2007.
GSOC declined to comment on the case and declined to provide any information on its procedures for accessing telephone records.
However, informed sources said under new powers granted last year, the Garda watchdog did not need the consent of a judge or any independent entity to access mobile phone records.
Instead, senior officers in GSOC can grant permission to their colleagues.
Investigative reporters
There are now concerns over a number of other investigations in to investigative reporters by GSOC and the Garda.
Gardaí are investigating how information appeared in the media about Paul Murphy TD and others being charged in relation to anti-water charges protests. RTÉ and the Irish Examiner are the focus of the inquiry.
The Sunday Business Post is at the centre of a separate investigation in to information about the banking inquiry.
The Star and Irish Sun newspapers are being investigated after the publication of images from a CCTV camera that recorded a collision between a motorbike and a Garda car on Christmas Day.
In another case, a senior Garda officer remains suspended from duty and is under criminal investigation about the nature of his contacts with journalists.
The inquiry began following media reports about two Roma children who were temporarily taken from their families in Dublin and Westmeath in 2014.
A file on the case has been sent to the DPP.
RTÉ and the Irish Independent are under investigation over a Garda inquiry in to allegations that a former government minister may have acted inappropriately with a minor.
The Irish Daily Star is under investigation about a story on the arrest of Clare Daly TD for suspected drink driving, although she was not over the legal limit.
In another case, a journalist from the Sunday World has made a complaint to GSOC alleging her phone was being monitored for up to four years by the Garda.
