merrion street

In a number of the judgements by the Supreme Court yesterday dealing with the appeal of Ian Bailey against an order for his extradition reference was made to documentation which emerged from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Upon the existence of this documentation being brought to the attention of the Attorney General and the Minister arrangements were made to furnish it to the solicitors and counsel representing all sides in the proceedings before the Supreme Court and to the relevant French authorities.

The Minister understands that the issues raised in the documentation subsequently formed the basis of a complaint made on behalf of Mr Bailey to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission.

The Minister has been advised that the Ombudsman Commission has admitted the complaint and initiated an investigation.

Minister Shatter said:

"I believe that it is clearly desirable that these matters be investigated in the public interest and that the Ombudsman Commission is the appropriate body to do so."

The Minister is consulting with the Attorney General with regard to the matter of the documentation in the Director of Public Prosecutions’ office only first emerging subsequent to the proceedings having been determined in the High Court and only shortly prior to the hearing of the Supreme Court Appeal in which judgments were delivered yesterday.