AN attempt by a Cork man to have the Government publish the Price Waterhouse report commissioned by Dunnes Stores failed in the High Court yesterday.
Mr Justice McCracken, in refusing the application of Mr Con O'Connell, Hillview Estate, Tramore Road, Cork, said it appeared that the report was a private document. Although in the hands of the Government, it remained a private document.
Mr O'Connell said in an affidavit that he believed it was in the public interest to have the report published immediately. He said the report was drawn up specifically for a court action, involving the Dunne family in 1994.
Owing to recent controversy following "leaks" of some of the contents of the report the Government was now in possession of at least two copies of the report. It was therefore in the public domain.
The document had caused considerable public disquiet and created widespread distrust because of a perceived cover-up by the Government which had failed to put forward any logical or reasonable explanation for its non-publication.
In refusing the application, Mr Justice McCracken also said there was a query about Mr O'Connell's standing to bring the application.