A woman has been arrested in connection with the inquiry into the alleged leaking of letters from minister of state for food and agriculture Trevor Sargent to members of the Garda.
The woman, who is in her 30s, was arrested at 10.20am. She is being held at Lucan Garda station under section 4 of Criminal Justice Act. It is understood she is a serving member of the Garda.
She is being detained at Lucan Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Last month, the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy ordered an inquiry into the leaking of the correspondence relating to the events that led to the resignation of the former Green Party leader.
Mr Murphy announced he had appointed Chief Superintendent Michael Finn of the Cork division “to examine and inquire into all the circumstances surrounding the recent public disclosure of correspondence addressed to An Garda Síochána at Balbriggan Garda station.”
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said he will publish the findings of the report “as soon as possible”.
The Minister said the investigation would be an examination of the entire circumstances around the case and the leaking of the documents. He said the same report would contain the findings of the separate investigation into a complaint made against former minister for defence Willie O’Dea by a member of the Green Party.
Mr Sargent stepped down from his position as minister of state after admitting to unlawfully contacting a garda about a case involving a constituent. Mr Sargent said that while his actions did not constitute a criminal offence, his communication could be deemed not lawful.