A MEETING between Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy and the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) to discuss the circumstances in which a leading witness in the Lillis trial, Jean Treacy, was protected from media attention, is expected to be arranged shortly.
Ms Treacy was allowed to use an underground entrance to the new court complex in Dublin to evade waiting media while arriving to give evidence.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern indicated at the weekend that the decision to shield Ms Treacy from the media may have been partly to ensure her co-operation as a trial witness.
“In relation to the witness, Ms Treacy, the gardaí have an onus . . . to bring a witness to court and to ensure that the witness will co-operate,” said Mr Ahern.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Saturday Viewprogramme, the Minister said: "I think we should leave it up to the experts in this area, the gardaí and indeed the Courts Service and the Prison Service, to decide which is the best way in particular circumstances."
A spokeswoman for the Garda Commissioner said yesterday that he had agreed to meet the NNI to discuss the issues that had arisen from the treatment of Ms Treacy, but no date had been set as yet for the meeting.
Commissioner Murphy said last week: “I will be meeting them when the trial is over. I will be discussing that issue and other issues regarding the relationship with An Garda Síochána and the media.”
NNI is the representative body for Ireland’s national newspapers and Irish editions of British national newspapers. It represents 18 newspapers.
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