asked the Minister for Justice if, on the afternoon of January 23rd, detective officers raided and searched the homes of D. MacMahon, Birr Road, Nenagh, Secretary of the Nenagh Fianna Fáil Cumann, and Denis O'Neill, 35 Mitchell Street, Nenagh, Secretary of the Nenagh Fianna Fáil Comhairle Ceanntair, and if he is aware that the detective officers concerned demanded, read and copied correspondence and other documents relating to the Fianna Fáil organisation, and if he considers that the employment of the Gárda Síochána for such purposes is in the public interest.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nenagh Searches.
The residences of D. MacMahon and Denis O'Neill in the town of Nenagh were entered and searched by members of the Gárda Síochána on the 23rd ultimo in pursuance of a search order for firearms issued under the Firearms Act, information having reached the police which led them to believe that these men were in possession of revolvers. During the course of the search the police came across a certain amount of seditious propaganda issued by a so-called. Republican Prisoners' Committee, 27 Dawson Street, Dublin, together with a certain amount of pamphlets of an extremist variety purporting to have been issued by an organisation calling itself Ghosts. I am of opinion that the search order in these cases was in the public interest.
Will the Minister state why the detective officers who conducted these raids demanded, secured and copied correspondence relating to the Fianna Fáil organisation and will he state if he is of opinion that the use of the Civic Guards for the purposes of political espionage is in the public interest?
I have got here the documents which they actually took away, and all these are documents issued by the people who call themselves "Ghosts." If "Ghosts" are associated with Fianna Fáil it is news to me, and I am sorry to hear it.
Would the Minister state why the detective officers demanded and copied the minutes of meetings of branches of the Fianna Fáil organisation?
I do not accept the fact that they did so. These gentlemen are not even followers of the Deputy opposite.
Will the Minister make inquiries as to whether the detective officers did in fact demand documents belonging to the Fianna Fáil organisation?
Upon what authority does the Deputy make that statement?
I must have notice of that question.