asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that on the night of 1st June last a search was made by members of the Garda Síochána, led by a superintendent, on a house in Ballyshannon and that an attempt to search another house in the same town was also made; and, if so, whether he will state (1) the circumstances under which the search and attempted search were made; (2) whether the officers in question acted under search warrants, and, if so, by whom the search warrants were authorised, and (3) whether the officers in question received any information on the matter from the Six Counties police force.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Síochána Action.
On the night of 1st June a house in Ballyshannon was searched by the Garda Síochána, under the authority of a search order lawfully issued by a superintendent of the Garda Síochána. It is not correct to say that an attempt was made to search another house in the same town on the same occasion. Members of the Garda Síochána did call at another house but left on being told that the owner was not in.
It is not the practice to disclose thesource or sources of information which is obtained by the Garda Síochána. Furthermore, I do not consider that it would be in the public interest or fair to the person or persons concerned, to indicate publicly the nature of the suspected offence which gave rise to the search.
May I ask if it is a fact that in this case the chief constable of the R.U.C. in Enniskillen phoned the superintendent in Ballyshannon and asked that a search be carried out of this house for the purpose of confiscating tricolours? When has it become an offence to have a tricolour in a house in the Twenty-Six Counties? That happened and I will pass the proof over to the Minister if he wants to see it. It is a disgrace and that practice will have to be stopped.
Did the Minister say the Gardaí were furnished with a search warrant in this case?
Mr. Boland
Yes, issued by the superintendent.
At the request of the R.U.C.
Mr. Boland
The warrant was lawfully issued by a superintendent.