Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Surveillance company says Paul Williams report on GSOC was "wholly inaccurate"

Verrimus, which carried out the security sweep of GSOC, has dismissed suggestions made in the Irish Independent today about the source of the anomalies.

A COUNTER-SURVEILLANCE COMPANY which carried out a security sweep of the Garda Ombudsman headquarters has dismissed a report by journalist Paul Williams into the source of the anomalies found in the building.

Verrimus, a technical surveillance and privacy company based in the UK said the story about possible reasons for the security breaches was “wholly inaccurate”.

The report by Paul Williams in the Irish Independent today said that a wi-fi network in a nearby coffee shop had been the source of an external wi-fi network identified as an anomaly in the security sweep.

The report also suggested that the detection of a UK phone network during the sweep was caused by one of the phones used by an employee of the company.

In a statement, Verrimus said it cannot comment specifically on the task for GSOC or its findings, but said it will “correct technical inaccuracies in reporting”.

The company said it was not possible for a mobile phone of one of its employees to have been the source of the detected readings.

“A mobile phone cannot create a 3G base station, so it is impossible that Verrimus operator’s phones were the source of the fake Mobile Country Code (MCC) and fake Mobile Network Code (MNC) that was detected,” the company said in a statement.

It also dismissed the suggestion that the coffee shop had been responsible for the external wi-fi network.

Calls have been growing for an independent inquiry into the covert surveillance of the office of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission since it was revealed more than one week ago.

Sinn Féin is to hold a debate in the Dáil this evening pushing for an investigation into who was behind the bugging.

Read: Security specialists deny trying to sell bugging equipment to gardaí >

Column: There’s no credible alternatives to an independent inquiry into GSOC allegations >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
105 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kev
    Favourite Kev
    Report
    Jan 1st 2020, 11:29 AM

    The world stands with Hong Kong, China’s fascism is spreading and we need to stand up to them

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute NPC4452347
    Favourite NPC4452347
    Report
    Jan 1st 2020, 2:15 PM

    @Kev: China is communist not fascist

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wen Qin Joe
    Favourite Wen Qin Joe
    Report
    Jan 1st 2020, 2:27 PM

    @Kev: fascism is spreading? how ridiculous is shadow opinions to China .. . I really don’t know what reason guys still have this thought on you mind . . know nothing about history nothing about China. We are all standing with Hong Kong people with their peaceful protest. But obviously not . Now the long term violent is destroying the Hong Kong economic . Tourist doesn’t go . Business is huge effect.

    5
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gm_cmanning
    Favourite gm_cmanning
    Report
    Jan 1st 2020, 6:23 PM

    @Wen Qin Joe: wouldn’t be an issue if China kept to “one country two systems” but their totalitarian Pooh beat lookin dictator doesn’t seem too keen on that does he?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gm_cmanning
    Favourite gm_cmanning
    Report
    Jan 1st 2020, 11:59 AM

    Respect to the protestors. Hope it ends better than is likely.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie O'Neill
    Favourite Eddie O'Neill
    Report
    Jan 1st 2020, 1:53 PM

    Well done to them, very courageous, hopefully 2020 is the year their demands are met and peace returns to HK.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Power Hitters
    Favourite Power Hitters
    Report
    Jan 1st 2020, 3:22 PM

    With Doraemon on their side, hopefully they can defeat this evil.

    9
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds