Fennelly to Cost €2 million

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has revealed that the Fennelly Commission of Investigation into the recording of telephone calls at Garda stations will cost around €2 million if the works is completed this year.

However, Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins has queried the wisdom of an Investigation in order to discover 'what the Taoiseach knows about the circumstances of the retirement of the former Garda commissioner.'

Garda at the scene of the rescue of John O'Grady, 1987.

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Civil Liberties & Fennelly Investigation

The Irish Council of Civil Liberties has called for the Fennelly investigation to be afforded a wider remit. The human rights lobby groups wants Justice Fennelly to bring Irish surveillance laws under increased scrutiny.

The ICCL said:

Moreover, since at least one other agency of the State (the Irish Prison Service) has since become the subject of public concern about the taping of telephone calls between prisoners and their legal representatives, the ICCL suggests that Mr Justice Fennelly be invited to review the adequacy of current law and practice in relation to the use of surveillance by all relevant agencies of the State.

Garda at scene of Tiede Herrema kidnapping in 1975.

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Buying Some Time

The Irish Independent has claimed that the Coalition has brought itself some time in the 'Garda wars' that it has become embroiled in.

...yesterday, unveiling the terms of reference for the inquiry into these 30 years of garda-station tape recordings, it was hard to fault the wide remit given Mr Justice Nial Fennelly of the Supreme Court.

The inquiry in addition to looking into the taping of phone calls in Garda stations yesterday, will also investigate the monitoring of calls between remand prisoners in the state's jails and their legal representatives. 

Garda during rescue of kidnapped dentist, John O'Grady, 1987.

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Cabinet Meets today on Fennelly

The Fennelly Inquiry which is tasked with investigating the latest scandal to hit the Garda is expected to last for one year. When it meets in Dublin today:
 

The Cabinet is expected to advance two of the biggest developments in policing in the history of the State ... Ministers will decide the terms of reference for the Fennelly Inquiry into recordings at garda stations and they will discuss the new independent authority that will oversee the force. It is understood a probe of illegal recordings made at prisons could now be included in the Fennelly Inquiry.

The political career Justice Minister Alan Shatter is said to be on a knife edge as a result of the scandal.

Garda Rowing Club, 1967.

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Justice Fennelly to Head Commission of Investigation

The government has nominated  Judge Niall Fennelly to lead the Commission of Investigation into secret Garda tape recordings. Justice Fennelly serves on Ireland's Supreme Court, currently presided over by Susan Gageby Denham.

This is the latest in a long series of Judge led investigations of abuses of power in Irish political life.

Ms Mella Carroll Appointed To High Court on 6th October 1980

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