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Shatter urged to comment on report of bugging at Garda Ombudsman office

A report today claimed emails, wi-fi and phone systems were hacked and a phone in a conference room at the building was bugged.

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.

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158 Comments
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    Mute Dave Dson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:27 PM

    It took an English paper to break the story. Even that presents more questions than answers.

    534
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    Mute Foxys Bicycle
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:29 PM

    That’s because RTE is state run
    You have to laugh they go on about state run tv in North Korea and other places sure it’s the same here

    429
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    Mute IrishSoviet
    Favourite IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:39 PM

    I bet this bugging is linked to the informer in Louth who was importing and pushing shit loads of heroin with the knowledge of the guards.

    88
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    Mute Aireach
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:44 PM

    Have you inside knowledge? How do you know that?

    Facts please.

    169
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    Mute Aireach
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:49 PM

    You havnt helped anyone out. Yourself included. Stick to facts rather than speculation.

    157
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:52 PM

    @Foxys

    Rabbitte said that he wouldn’t intervene in the Rory O’Neill case because how RTÉ responded to the complaints about the O’Neill interview was a matter for RTÉ. That shows that he respects RTÉ’s independence.

    21
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:56 PM

    ciaran,

    if you believe that RTE are an independent media organization you are one sad saddo.

    239
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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:58 PM

    What about the lorry load of coke in Laois, do you remember that was the biggest seizure in the history of the state at the time, only problem was the lads who brought it in were members of the guards

    148
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    Mute Kris O Kay Kay
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:00 PM

    The thing is, there are many organisations or persons that could benefit from information that GSOC has on file…media included. I wouldn’t be that quick to jump to any conclusions just yet as to who it maybe….very interesting all the same.

    141
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:07 PM

    @IrishSoviet

    What evidence is there that the government interferes with RTÉ? The Portlaoise hospital case shows that RTÉ does its job well.

    27
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:15 PM

    ciarain,

    Section 31 for 30 years;
    The servants of the state who work there;
    Rte won’t report various protests around the contry,
    rte didn’t report this case;
    etc etc;

    Rte will now have to report this story because it’s being broken by a foreign media organization.

    Glad i could help.

    156
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    Mute Kris O Kay Kay
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:16 PM

    Highly unlikely Irish Soviet/ Limerick Soviet…I assume you have prove, photographs, recordings, both visual and voice etc of this outlandish claim?

    40
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:17 PM

    The 1 o’clock and 6One news have come and gone and RTE have still not mentioned this massive story…….while its all over the internet and Sunday papers. They are so blatant with their censorship its disgusting ……..Where are the RTE whistle-blowers when we need them.

    223
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    Mute Kris O Kay Kay
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:17 PM

    *proof

    23
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    Mute Miasaurus Rex
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:19 PM

    The Sunday Times is an Irish publication.

    24
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:21 PM

    Rte are not even hiding that they are a state propagandist machine.

    112
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:24 PM

    cris kay, p lyons, james buchanan, eastbank derry etc;

    if you studied the garda heroin case for more than 30 seconds and put away your bullshit you’d come to the same conclusion.

    68
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:26 PM

    miasaurus,
    the sunday times is as irish as the oirish skvm and the oirish minger.

    46
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:39 PM

    @Irish Soviet

    Section 31 was justified because the PIRA is a terrorist organisation and Sinn Féin was the PIRA’s political wing. Those who condone the killing of innocent people do not have the right to freedom of speech. RTÉ has to obey Irish law just like the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have to obey British law.

    Maybe those protests that RTÉ don’t report are not big enough to be matters of public concern.

    42
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:39 PM

    Ciarán Masterson RTE push the government agenda daily whether its talking up Irish water not asking tough or any questions when interviewing ministers. Calling protesters idiots live on air. Only reporting on creation of jobs and ignoring job losses. Talking about unemployment going down but not mentioning emigration as a factor or people working for 50euros a week on jobs bridge. But this breaking story about the disgraceful bugging of the ombudsman not even being mentioned on the national broadcaster is all the evidence that is needed.

    but here is some more:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EAORGhItyA
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAQT8Wcw77E
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=691ZDbHji7I
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ais7sAgNg0s

    8
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:40 PM

    IrishSoviet

    I have to give you a point for the heroin dealer in Louth reference.

    Another story that was broken by the Sunday Times. A story that is unmatched as a Garda scandal since the foundation of the state.

    Here the same writer talks bout it.

    http://www.broadsheet.ie/2013/05/10/black-ops-being-run-off-the-books/

    51
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:42 PM

    Ciarán Masterson RTE push the government agenda daily whether its talking up Irish water not asking tough or any questions when interviewing ministers. Calling protesters idiots live on air. Only reporting on creation of jobs and ignoring job losses. Talking about unemployment going down but not mentioning emigration as a factor or people working for 50euros a week on jobs bridge. But this breaking story about the disgraceful bugging of the ombudsman not even being mentioned on the national broadcaster is all the evidence that is needed.

    but here is some more:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EAORGhItyA

    114
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:43 PM
    24
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:43 PM
    20
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:43 PM
    21
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:50 PM

    @SeanieRyan

    The DPP would have prosecuted if gardaí had committed crimes in the Kieran Boylan case.

    46
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:52 PM

    ciaran,
    you’re a guard or one naive individual, the dpp weren’t allowed prosecute because of what would come in to the public domain.

    88
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:53 PM

    @Martin Byrne

    Those protestors are lunatics and the ones who interrupted the interview that was taking place on Six-One were rude. Therefore, Dobbo was right to call them idiots. As for the GSOC bugging story, you’re going on as though the GSOC’s office had been bombed. Get some perspective.

    38
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:55 PM

    @IrishSoviet

    The DPP is independent of the government.

    35
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:08 PM

    ‘The DPP is independent of the government’

    lnfao, lol lol ha ha ha ha ha HA HA HA,

    THE STATE HAS ITS GRUBBY FINGERS IN ALL THE PIES.

    Get mammy to make you cocoa and off to bed with you.

    89
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    Mute Kris O Kay Kay
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:11 PM

    I wouldn’t think so, but look we are all entitled to our opinions, be they polar opposite.

    19
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:21 PM

    In the Kieran Boylan case it was positioned that certain Guards were providing cover for Boylan in return for low level players and other dealers being given up.

    CV boosting scheme and that this is why he remains at large.

    It is fair to say that no other major drug importer as far as we know enjoys such protection from the Guards.

    Why did they lie about his record when they signed off on a haulage licence?

    48
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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:37 PM

    The figures, from the Irish prison service, for numbers of our fellow citizens imprisoned for refusing or being financially unable to subsidise the propaganda they are mandated to subsidise.
    In 2008 -49
    In 2009 – 75
    In 2010 152
    In 2011 183
    In 2012 272.

    At an average annual compounding rate of approx 50%- 400 will have been imprisoned in 2013 for refusing to or failing to submit to extortion. If this rate persists 600 will find themselves behind bars in 2014.

    42
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    Mute Joe Burns
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:50 PM

    @Ciaran And RTE are independent of the government. :)

    29
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    Mute Harry Price
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:58 PM

    Are the KGB in on it from the park

    6
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    Mute Grayham Ó Fallúin
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:02 PM

    seriously,crawl back into bed and stop embarrassing yourself.

    26
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    Mute Liam Mclaughlin
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:07 PM

    Irish soviet, you have no clue what you speak about in relation to the conflict in the North. Yes innocent people were killed ON BOTH SIDES. I know because I was there. There were many innocent people killed in the Irish Civil war, however, that appears to be tolerable. One rule for the South and another for the North

    26
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    Mute Kinsaleable
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:07 PM

    And again limerick soviet… You just can’t hide it..

    12
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:44 PM

    @liam,
    I never mentioned the north!!!!!!!!!!

    @kinsale

    handed to me on a plate, if you don’t learn from this you’re either a cop or a state journalist.

    23
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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:53 PM

    @Ciarán Masterson ” Those protestors are lunatics and the ones who interrupted the interview that was taking place on Six-One were rude. Therefore, Dobbo was right to call them idiots.”

    That’s the funniest comment on here…….Lunatics ha ha dear god talk about grasping at straws……The two protesters said nothing made no noise did not jump around or harass the reporter only got themselves into the shot just like hundreds of Fine Gaelers do every time a minster is talking about new jobs they cram into the shot to get there faces on tv are they Lunatics? and if Dobo was right to call them idiots why did he make an apology. obviously he disagrees with you he knows he was wrong.

    take your far right blinkers off and join the real world.

    41
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    Mute Sandbag
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:01 PM

    It’s been on 2fm news since 7pm.

    15
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    Mute Harry Price
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    Feb 10th 2014, 12:00 AM

    democracy is in trouble in all of this

    14
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    Mute Phelim Murnion
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    Feb 11th 2014, 11:10 AM

    God love us. Ireland has been thru the worst disaster in the history of the State due to failure in State institutions and lack of openness. Yet still there are still cumfy conservatives like Mr Masterson doggedly defending the State, the status quo, and censorship . Defence of censorship is always a kind of ignorance and this one is no different. Many people in high office in politics support the actions of armed forces which kill civilians. Do you think those dead are less worthy than IRA victims? Secondly free speech is not only a right of the speaker; it is more importantly a right for the listener. By banning SF, we the citizens were denied the opportunity to consider different voices on the Northern conflict. As a direct result, people were stunned when the Peace process started (not surprising: censorship creates ignorance) . the Peace Process was delayed and many more civilians died than might have otherwise. Whatever about their other flaws the US commitment to free speech indicates a real democracry not like our banana republic.
    As for the RTE/BBC comparison it is entirely inaccurate. BBC fought against the censorship in the UK; employing voiceovers and other methods. RTE tamely banned SF from their station. In a famous case an Irish court declared that a trades union spokesperson (who was also an SF member) should be interviewed by RTE on the grounds that the dispute had nothing to do with the North. RTE appealed to a higher court in an attempt to enforce section 31. The public service broadcaster was stronger on censorship than a judge! Mary McAleese stated that when she worked in RTE on current affairs the atmosphere was very opporsive; there was open hostility to any kind of reporting that was seen to be pro-nationalist.

    1
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    Mute John Smith
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:23 PM

    This is the kind of thing that brings down governments.
    Shatter is too close and cosy with the Garda commissioner.
    Both could end up resigning with a bit if luck

    273
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    Mute Foxys Bicycle
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:26 PM

    One can hope !!!

    153
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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:53 PM

    My sentiment exactly john

    83
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:55 PM

    @John Smith

    So Shatter and Callinan have a good working relationship. That is not proof of wrongdoing.

    50
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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:16 PM

    How about a friendly fiver on this one, you owe me 2 already, I say nothing will happen and it will be buried

    74
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    Mute Ian T Boyle
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:55 PM

    In Ireland, dream on

    28
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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:23 PM

    Just hearing that this one is going to be blamed on the republicans, so I was right it will be buried and no one will be charged because the guards could not catch them, wink wink,

    52
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    Mute Foxys Bicycle
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:22 PM

    The question people should be asking is this
    Who benefits from bugging the Garda ombudsman

    214
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:11 PM

    The guards

    149
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    Mute Irish Revolution
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:33 PM

    Very clear whats going on here, our crooked police force are up to no good again.

    Yet one more reason why the Commissioner should resign, along with Shatter, as would be happening if Ireland was a functioning democracy. Both will be still in their jobs tomorrow, which tells us all we need to know about this corrupt hovel.

    102
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:49 PM

    Irish revolution you can’t turn correlation into fact without the facts. As bad as this looks we need to prove this before making such comments.

    54
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    Mute Irish Revolution
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:53 PM

    Some very important questions here, if it was an arm of the state doing this, they would need a court order. Without one, the case is even worse.

    33
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:58 PM

    The only question that needs asking is who bugged the office. Once that is known further questions will of course be asked

    49
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    Mute Irish Revolution
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:00 PM

    Only one organisation is interested in bugging whats going on in that office.

    48
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:57 PM

    this site is full of gards today

    38
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    Mute Harry Price
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    Feb 9th 2014, 11:08 PM

    That is for sure.. full of guards that will get caught for an act against justice

    24
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    Mute Green Burqa
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:06 AM

    Look what happens when you staff an orginisation that investigates cops with ex cops

    9
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    Mute The Irish Bull
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:39 PM

    Public confidence in most state institutions has been well and truly shattered these past 5 years, Mr. Collins. With plenty more to come, no doubt.

    113
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:38 PM

    Looks like the GSOC felt it necessary to engage foreign experts to investigate the eavesdropping without informing the Garda Commissioner or the Minister for Justice.

    It’s understandable that they would not inform the Gardai as they are the most likely to have an interest in the GSOC’s investigations. It’s disturbing that the GSOC felt it could not trust the Minister for Justice.

    This is the kind of incident one might have expected in South America or the Middle East.

    The fact that the state broadcaster will not cover the news is an indication of guilt at a senior level of state administration.

    70
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    Mute Irish Revolution
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:50 PM

    FF would know a lot about bugging of people, FF used to bug journalists and political opponents. So forget the weasel words from SeanieRyan the FF shill.

    51
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:20 PM

    Whataboutery is for children and fools.

    14
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    Mute Irish Revolution
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:39 PM

    And you are a FFool

    25
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    Mute don mur
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:20 PM

    This is one hell of a corrupt country.

    102
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    Mute david garland
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:43 PM

    Blantly obvious who is responsible. The only ones to gain from known what is going on in the Garda Ombudsman office are the Gardai..

    101
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    Mute Peter Richardson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:52 PM

    But David Garland, there is no such thing as Garda misconduct. It is an impossibility. Can anyone seriously think that any Garda would do such a thing? My Dad, the Superintendent, tells me that the media did it.

    52
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:18 PM

    peter,
    does your dad know my dad, cos my dad, the Sergeant told me that the media did it.

    25
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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:34 PM

    Are our police policing the people who police the police?

    Say it ain’t so.

    (Anyone even slightly surprised by this ‘revelation’?)

    101
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    Mute Tom Doyle
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:39 PM

    Lot of guards on here tonight by the looks of the red thumbs.

    91
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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:12 PM

    Must be loads tom both my comments were taken down even though they era true

    41
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    Mute Michael
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:53 PM

    Watergate! That’s what happens in The real world, however the Irish people live in a Banana Republic where politicians are unable to spell the word resignation!

    91
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    Mute Silent Majority
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:57 PM

    So it seems the police, or some members of, are trying to subvert a public body set up to protect us from the police. No two ways about it, anyone involved in this is an enemy of the people and of the state.

    83
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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:57 PM

    It is obvious who would be the beneficiaries of this bugging. The question that needs to be asked is: Is the Garda Siochana fit for purpose?

    76
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    Mute Irish Revolution
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:35 PM

    Its not. Its time to disband the Gardai.

    40
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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:44 PM

    This is one of the most disturbing stories that I have heard in a long time.

    That it has happened at all is a major news story, that the only beneficiaries of doing this and the only people with access to the high level technology used are certain uniformed representatives of this state.

    More disturbing is that privy information was used in public and that that was what alerted them to the security breech. So a high profile person seems to have had access to the information gleamed. Did that now anon person know the providence of this info or did they not care.

    Security breech – call this what it is a major criminal act and abuse of power that undermines the very basic concept of justice and democracy.

    73
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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:46 PM

    surprised you didn’t blame sinn fein you ghoul.

    65
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    Mute Dagnet Taggart
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:33 PM

    This high level of equipment,can be bought on the Net bu any halfway decent private investigation company in Ireland BTW.
    Wont be the first time a civillian private eye company has been found doing the dirty for either political figures.
    Famous one being Charlie Haughy hiring a private eye to bug the Garda special branch in the early 1980s.
    You will find most “private investigators” in this country are EX Gardai who are still using their pals inside on the force to feed teim info from the PULSE system,so I wouldnt be surprised that this is some EX Garda doing a bit of black ops for his pals in the Park…
    It would behoove the Garda ombudsman to allow some pics of this equipment to be made public to see how sophisticated it really is.

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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:50 PM

    dagnet,

    how do you account for the bug in the meeting room?

    Someone had to have gained access and they didn’t pop round for tea.

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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:02 PM

    The equipment that was found is not readily available and is only licensed to security forces and States.

    I think the one thing that we can be certain of is that this is not a “private eye company”.

    Your line about Haughey hiring a P.I. to bug the Garda Special Branch in the early 80′s is walter mitty stuff.

    Haughey did some stupid things but no one ever heard of this before it emerged from your mind.

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    Mute Dave
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:03 PM

    “Someone had to have gained access and they didn’t pop round for tea.”

    Not necessarily, a conference speaker phone could be hacked *remotely* if it has a loophole or flaw or backdoor in its technology.

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    Mute Dagnet Taggart
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    Feb 10th 2014, 2:13 AM

    Actually Seanie,seeing that you proably were a dirty glint in your mothers eye on seeing your dad for the first time down behind the disco wall in 1986 when this happened.
    You havent a bulls notion on what you are on about so I’d advise you to shuttup now before I make a complete fool out of you which wouldnt be too much of a problem.I have the name ,dates,times and the private eye who didithe job and was awarded by Haughey for his efforts to be made a peace comissioner in Dublin.Guess what,the PI in question freely admits to it too, and is or was a media name in the Sunday World and occasionaly dragged out on RTE to show off his by now dated gear.
    Now ,as for your other statement that this equipment is only available to state and security forces.Either you are as naive as a bunch of rocks or really have no clue how the world functions in the murk.I do,as I work in this field and I can tell you it isnt any real hard problem to buy whatever or get it made even here in little old Ireland.Do you expect the Gaurds to be bimbling into the offices Watergate style in the middle of the night???This was done by a black bag job of deniables that have no connection to AGS at all,bar maybe a friend of a friend somwhere.
    Learn something about a subject before you sound off on it.

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    Mute Dagnet Taggart
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    Feb 10th 2014, 2:29 AM

    Not exactly the hardes job in the World to either
    [1] Get a job with a cleaning company that cleans the GSOC offices at night unsupervised and plant the bugs

    [2] Find somone in said company and offer them a good sum of money to do this job or have somthing on them and blackmail them to do this.

    [3]Ditto the security company that might gaurd this building…Money is a fierce persuader lots of EX Gardai are in or run “security companies” Ask anyone involved up in mMayo with Shell to the Sea about IRMS ,and they would be the kind of boyos up for this kind of craic.
    Any break ins,or fire alarms recently with nothing stolen in the break in?Anyone in to fix the phones,check the electricity cabling from the Govt…er…ESB?

    Or ,I could think of at least a half dozen other ways that the above real life examples that have been used in the past to bug offices in Ireland could be played out.

    The idea of Gardi sneaking in themselves in black ninja outfits” mission impossible” style is actually laughable and totally unrealistic and would be downright fool hardy and dangerous for them Whatever it was effective as we are all playing “guess who?” now arent we?
    It also shows the yet again “Shure nuthin will happen or dont be goin off in James bond fantasies now” attitude Irish companies and Govt depts and NGOs have to information security.

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Feb 10th 2014, 6:18 AM

    Is this the spin you’re told to get rolling?

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:34 PM

    Be afraid, be very afraid !

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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:50 PM

    All the sickening guards defending the sickening guards.

    We need a new police force.

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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:43 PM

    niall collins is a hypocrite who’d sell his soul to the guards in order to become minister for justice.

    whats left of our freedoms will be in danger the minute he gets that job.

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    Mute cutsie
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:34 PM

    English paper exposed it probably cos the Indo sacked their journalist Gemma O’Doherty exposing penalty point scandal… Kinda scary when it turns out that the now editor in chief Stephen Rae had points removed from a car registered to him : /

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:20 PM

    Bad as this scandal is. The bigger scandal is that neither RTE or any of the mainstream media have carried the story. This government is taking very dangerous liberties with people’s rights in this country.

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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:56 PM
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    Mute Kevin Carroll
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:37 PM

    Yep made the comment here criticising the journal for not reporting it earlier and it was promptly deleted…

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    Mute mart_n
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:45 PM

    I wouldn’t totally rule out media involvement either at this stage. An episode of Panorama a few years ago detailed how during the phone-hacking days of the NOTW, faxes and ‘leaks’ were channelled through News Internationals Dublin office.

    “Panorama obtained details of a fax sent to the office of Marunchak on 5 July 2006, apparently containing copies of emails which had been written by Ian Hurst, a former army intelligence officer. Marunchak was then based in the News of the World’s Dublin office, editing the Irish edition. Hurst was believed to be involved in writing a book titled Stakeknife, eventually published under the pseudonym Martin Ingram, which details the alleged involvement of British intelligence in assassinations in Northern Ireland. Hurst had been the subject of court orders obtained by the Ministry of Defence.

    Hurst then asked the hacker who had commissioned him to do this. The hacker replied: “The faxes would go to Dublin … He was the editor of the News of the World for Ireland. A Slovak-type name. I can’t remember his ****ing name. Alex, his name is. Marunchak.” Marunchak declined to answer questions when the BBC confronted him.”

    http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/mar/13/phone-hacking-panorama-names-journalist

    Interesting that Hurst was writing a book about state collusion at this time. Would the GSOC be worth listening in on to garner some information regarding collusion on this side of the border?

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    Mute Lar Cooney
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:08 PM

    As soon as we joined the euro we came across a problem. That people we elected became fixated on the bigger picture. The smelly corrupt euro that devalued our little nation. I feel closer to Spain and France and Portugal but not because of the currency……. Or trade… The people I meet from these country’s hate what the leaders are doing to there country’s… Our day to day Garda take no pride in there jobs.. No equipment. Dressed like polish postmen from the 70s. We should fear the law. They should care. But we elected people who only care about themselves. And what the interpret as just….. I am sick of it.!!!!’

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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:50 PM

    If you want to read facts about the level of corruption in the guards look up a case about Daniel Doherty jailed for 7 times without a court case, or Kevin Tracy brought to court over 30 times on malicious charges

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    Mute Cormac Flanagan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:38 PM

    Doesn’t say in the article above and haven’t read the full article in the ST, does it mention who they think are responsible.

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    Mute Silent Majority
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:59 PM

    Who would you reckon is responsible for bugging the offices of an organisation whose sole remit is to investigate the Garda?

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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:04 PM

    silent,

    that’s a difficult question for him.

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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:08 PM

    Sorry don’t sit waiting for a reply to my question. I was asking does it say it in the original article who was responsible. Can only read the first few paragraphs on line. I know it mentions something bout government level expertise. Does it go into more detail in the article.

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    Mute Cormac Flanagan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:21 PM

    Ok has anyone actually read the ST article.

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    Mute Peter Richardson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:48 PM

    Who on earth would have the motivation to do such a thing, assuming that the bugging actually happened?

    You would need to be Garda Detective to figure this one out!

    I assume the GSOC will call in an Garda Siochana for an independent and objective investigation.

    Only in Ireland!

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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:56 PM

    Don’t be stupid, a full enquiry will be set up using retired guards to investigate this, then another tribunal like the smeithwick one and then when that’s over some guards who have nothing to do with it will get all the airtime they want to rubbish the report, just like the last one, end of story

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    Mute Peter Richardson
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:20 PM

    Lm Group, that sounds awfully familiar.

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    Mute Nathan Conroy
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:06 PM

    And theres talk of them being allowed full access to Pulse?????

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    Mute Silent Majority
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:09 PM

    You think the fact the guards are spying on them is reason not to allow them access to guards’ systems? Is this like where’s Wally but we have to see if we can find your logic?

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    Mute Nathan Conroy
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    Feb 10th 2014, 10:34 AM

    Well all i am saying is if they are that easily bugged… A professional hacker would have an absolute field day! And no My name is Nathan not “dimwhit” or anything else thanks very much!

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    Mute Fong Wannapho
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:30 PM

    Shatter hasn’t a clue what’s going on, he’s probably been set up by Commissioner Gordon.

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    Mute Jason Bourne
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:21 PM

    Nonsense.

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    Mute SeanieRyan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:49 PM

    Shatter is ultimate power over the Garda body.

    If Guards were involved in this and bluntly who else would bother with the Garda Ombudsman or have this level of sophisticated technology that was used, technology described as Govt. level by intelligence experts.

    If it is a Guard run operation then ultimately he is responsible for the force denigrating in to serious crime and a direct attack against the democratic rule of law.

    This is a national scandal.

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    Mute micheal285
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:31 PM

    Every Police Force in the world is corrupt : we:re no different.

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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:46 PM

    That’s grand so

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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:15 PM

    “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”
    ― Mahatma Gandhi

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    Mute Dermot O Dwyer
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:26 PM

    Garda Síochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) headquarters in Dublin was bugged…
    They would want to get on to Rentokil ,so they can find and kill them bugs….

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    Mute Donal O Neil
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:34 PM

    A bug a day keeps the doctor happy

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    Mute Emma Mc Nabola
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:52 PM

    @lm group, u said that members of the gardai were responsible for importing the largest ever consignment of cocaine found in this case. Can u please explain???

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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:09 PM

    For full details I will have to go back trough my phoniex magizine collection, it happend in laois a few years back,very embarrassing at the time but it went straight under the carpet

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    Mute Dave
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:33 PM

    This is serious stuff… Who’s responsible? Here are the possibilities (bear in mind the report says “government-level technology” was used)

    - Garda Siochana (only the Crime & Security Branch (CSB), Security & Intelligence Branch, Special Detective Unit or National Surveillance Unit would be able to carry this out). Stands to reason why they would…
    - Defence Forces Directorate of Intelligence (G2), quite a sophisticated unit, but why would they bug the GSOC?
    - MI5, SIS/MI6 or GCHQ – British would have a clear intention of keeping tabs on corruption/collusion in the Republic, also the bugs were traced back to Britain.
    - CIA or the NSA – Americans caught spying on the French/Germans, not entirely impossible for them to be keeping tabs on us. But the GSOC? Unlikely.
    - Foreign or hostile intelligence agency – Russia for example – to expose corruption in a western police force and use it as leverage? Unlikely to be honest.
    - The media? “Government level tech” which I don’t think the Irish media has, plus post-Leveson inquiry it would be quite unlikely, but the report does state the bugs were planted pre-Leveson…
    - Republican dissidents or criminals – possible, RIRA were caught redhanded spying on Garda Intelligence HQ at Harcourt St last year, but they are generally dimwits and “government level tech” they wouldn’t have access to

    Any more suggestions people?

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    Mute Dave
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:34 PM

    From the Guardian UK: “Irish journalists accuse police of ‘Stasi-like’ monitoring” – Garda Siochána alleged to be monitoring phone calls and threatening reporters with arrest in attempt to reveal sources

    http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/may/11/irish-journalists-police-monitoring

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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:45 PM

    “The CIA, the FBI, and the London Metropolitan Police are all subject to Freedom of Information. What special secrets do the Gardai have that these organisations do not have? Even the Police Service of Northern Ireland publishes a helpful log of what it has disclosed. But the Minister is wary of trespassing on the territory of the Garda Síochána.” – (FOIreland Weblog)

    http://ht.ly/qP3VE

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    Mute Dawn Keeballs
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:32 PM

    An Garda Siochana is a unique entity in that it is tasked with both upholding the law and maintaining state security. Other countries have specialist intelligence organisations separate to their police, but here the Gardai are responsible for it all.

    I’m not saying it’s right but with the above in mind it obvious why it’s not all covered by FOI

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    Mute Royal Jester
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:42 PM

    For what it’s worth Dave the nsu ( directed by c & s branch ) have ready access to the most sophisticated equipment in the market . For the past 30 years they have been trained by the best In Brighton actually in the art of covert entry of buildings vehicles etc. and placing bugs .

    In this instance however I would strongly suspect that they requested a favour from their friends in Box which would keep them an arms length away from any shit .

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    Mute Dave
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    Feb 9th 2014, 11:08 PM

    I should point out that in the main the Gardai and Defence Forces intelligence agencies do great work, hard work. They’ve foiled many dissident republican terror plots, foiled the assassination of Lars Vilks in Sweden by a European Al-Qaeda cell and keep an eye on foreign intelligence services operating in Ireland.

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    Mute Dagnet Taggart
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    Feb 10th 2014, 2:52 AM

    First Suspects AGS using a deniable asset.
    Second G2 doing a favour using the same denianle asset type approach.
    Bugs tarced back to Britan,plenty of Spy shops both online and on the high street to buy them,no big deal to mail order back to here .
    MI5 SIS[correct term for so called MI6] they do ENIT[electronic intelligence] gathering these days and would use if they had to do a black bag job someone local as cut out and deniability.Be more inclined to sit in front of a computor in Muswell hill or the Donut and listen in.

    CIA/NSA Do it by the flick of a switch in Langley or Fort Meade with a few billion dollars worth of ENIT.Not sneaking in planting bugs in Dublin in the conference phone.

    Russia/China Germany,the World forces of international crud.. Very unlikely and not worth the effort of risking personel on somthing like this.

    Local baddies,possible but as said dimwitted hamfisted attempts. Seeing that we wont be shown or have to belive the equipment is “Govt specl” equipment… The times i’ve heard THAT describing 20 euro FM bugs made in China…I’d rule them out too.

    Motive,method ,means folks and when you eliminate the impossible whatever is left no matter how improable has to be the truth.

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    Mute Dagnet Taggart
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    Feb 10th 2014, 2:55 AM

    Err have you not noticed that AGS are NOW subject to FOIA requests as well??Whether they obfusticate,stall ,lose and deny the files exist is another matter.

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    Mute Dagnet Taggart
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    Feb 10th 2014, 3:01 AM

    The majority of their information comes from inside informers and touts not from any bugging or other specialist infiltration abilities.
    Yeah the ysingle handly foiled the plot to kill Lars Vicks……..Rightttt..
    Keep an eye on foreign intelligence services in Ireland….If they could find them that is.

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    Mute sonyvaio23
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:28 PM

    More shiite to listen to now…
    the papers could have bugged the place for all we know
    ill wait til i hear the facts first

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:44 PM

    How can the facts be gotten when regulation says that the guards are to investigate this?

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    Mute IrishSoviet
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:11 PM

    sony,

    with a sonyvaio no one will bug you.

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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:27 PM

    The papers are even afraid to print the truth about garda corruption let alone bug one of their offices. No this one will be blamed one the dissidents wait and see

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    Mute Vinny
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:44 PM

    Jesus What a story .Heads will roll from the top down .

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    Mute Montys Moonshine
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:47 PM

    Don’t hold your breath vinny

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:36 PM

    Can we demand answers anywhere?

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:22 PM

    we cant even ask, how can we demand!!!!

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    Mute Willie
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:40 PM

    Think I’ll wait for the facts as they can be best ascertained to come out before I try to tear down the government and replace the police force.
    The ombudsman man may well be an independent office. They are However one who has in the past shown a penchant for self promotion through the media.
    As far as government/police spec surveillance equipment, a lot of this kit can be purchased online if you know where to look.

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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:09 PM

    This is a very real attack on the State. One wonders at the attitude of the Police Commissioner at the recent parliamentary committee where he had the temerity to consider challenging them in the High Court. The tail wanted to wag the dog! Surely it’s past time to retire this man and to investigate if he had any hand act or part in approving this bugging. He was granted an extension on his retirement at an early stage in the life of the government. Perhaps it’s time to clean house where this attitude prevails against the State itself from a civil servant.

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    Mute Kenneth Doyle
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:55 PM

    The garda of Ireland are police force as that of a banana republic.I am the author of Mother From Hell and have had a lot of dealings with the Tullamore Garda. When our book came out in Ireland we were contacted by many victims of child abuse.What victims are telling us is an utter disgrace to Ireland’s police force.We are hearing that victims are being further abused by the Garda.I myself tried to get justice from Ireland to no avail.The Garda have been covering up child abuse for years where the state was involved in the abuse by failure to protect.I hear many stories where victims fight tooth and nail to get the Garda to take statements etc.A good friend on mine is Cynthia Owen The Dalkey house of horrors.Cynthia was molested in a peado ring in Dalkey Dublin. In the peado ring there were members of the Garda who molested this girl. This man is refusing to open an investigation into Cynthia’s case.Shatter is refusing to open an investigation.This is disgraceful as there is no statue of limitations on child rape in Ireland.The Irish police along with Shatter is a disgrace.It’s time that the Irish public investigated the Police,DPP.And Shatter.

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    Mute kingstown
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    Feb 9th 2014, 6:51 PM

    Police bugging themselves

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    Mute Mark Kirwan
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:14 PM

    Absolutely staggered by this, though it happens because those responsible know they’ll get away with it. A banana republic.

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    Mute Godfodder
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    Feb 10th 2014, 1:07 AM

    I once attended a march in which Fintan O’Toole spoke, quiet eloquently as it happens, as I stood at Wine Tavern street you could see the marchers stretch from where I was to O’Connell bridge and the street and beyond. It was impressive and empowering yet when I got home and watched the 6 O’Clock news they reported a small march had taken place in Dublin city centre and it numbered no more than 5,000 people. It was a scary, scary eye opener for me as to how much control the incumbent government has over the state broadcaster.

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    Mute Kevin Carroll
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:32 PM

    Only 12 hours after the story broke journal :-/

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    Mute Bluemist
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    Feb 9th 2014, 9:54 PM

    Fair play to FF they are right we need a statement from the minister, hold on Did FF bug phones few years back

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    Mute Michael Conway
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:04 PM

    The only answer would be outside the country, I’d say the FBI would be a good start but can’t see somebody “asking” for help.

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:17 PM

    You have to be inside the country to big an office in Dublin not outside.

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    Mute Gerard Kilgannon
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    Feb 9th 2014, 7:32 PM
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    Mute Anne Kerins
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    Feb 9th 2014, 11:34 PM

    Undermining public confidence, what public confidence I ask, don’t trust any of them in this country

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    Mute Dave cullen
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    Feb 9th 2014, 11:56 PM

    Dont hold your breadth on a direct or meaningful response from shatter.He brings a whole new meaning to the word “arrogant”.

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    Mute Patrick Treacy
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    Feb 10th 2014, 12:10 AM

    New dimension to the Penalty Points saga…

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    Mute Dylan Dublin
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:45 PM

    Sure the ombudsman is full of retired gardai anyway !

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Feb 10th 2014, 6:27 AM

    It seems they have pulled the story from the Indo this morning. A scandal such as this is to be hidden from the public. We live in a police state now that’s for sure.

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    Mute Jonathan Bambury
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    Feb 10th 2014, 3:26 AM

    How many alarm bells do we need to hear ??

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    Mute David Clarke
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    Feb 9th 2014, 10:40 PM

    Will past this off and well forget about it same on us not them

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    Mute Steven Boyd
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    Feb 9th 2014, 8:20 PM

    call in Rentokill, they’ll get rid of all bugs…… and rats !

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    Mute Martin Carr
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    Feb 10th 2014, 8:29 AM

    The purpose of the GSOC is to investigate the GS so therefore the Gardai would be on and out of the conference room regularly.

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    Mute Declan Pollard
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    Feb 10th 2014, 7:59 AM

    Who bugged the Garda Ombudsman’s office?
    Why did the office get an outside security firm to establish if they were being bugged?
    Why didn’t they tell the relevant authorities?
    Why did they not tell the Minister of Justice?
    Why did they keep it under wraps for do long? All these questions should be answered promptly because it will create a vacuum, leaving the public and politicians to speculate on who was doing the bugging. The Ombudsman’s office will be totally undermined and will lose its credibility if it’s not sorted out expeditiously, instead of been left on the long finger.

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    Mute Mick Flynn
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    Feb 11th 2014, 12:20 AM

    Shatter’s buddies from Mossad would more than likely have the best expertise and technical know how to carry out an op like this,and leave no leads for anyone to follow. The Guards are hardly likely to have made a rope to hang themselves with. Or it could have been Gilligans gang,,or the Monk maybe or was it the Man From UNCLE.. Then spying has been going on for years in Ireland, in the 70s, 80s, & 90s, every single visitor to Portlaoise Prison was photographed as they entereed the main gate by means of a camera concealed in a garda radio set hanging on a nail with the lens fitted in to the speaker that was strategically placed to cover the gate as the people entered., by todays standards that was primitive but effective,the technology now is light years ahead of what they had then,

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