asked the Minister for Justice why the mv Kilcrea was boarded and searched; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Searching of Vessel.
14.
It is not the practice to disclose the reasons for Garda investigations in a particular case. Accordingly, I do not propose to make any statement in relation to this matter.
I am sure the Minister is aware of the considerable publicity attached to the arrival of this particular boat on the Clare coast. I presume if this particular boat had some kind of receiving set on it they would be aware that they were being awaited. Does he consider this a peculiar method to use to apprehend a vessel on which it is suspected there might be arms?
The question of publicity is one over which I have no control. I regard it as regrettable that there should be such publicity——
Who told them?
I have no idea who told them. They possibly deduced it from activity in the area.
A shrewd deduction.
Certainly neither the Garda, the Department of Justice nor Department of Defence informed them.
Has the Minister made specific inquiries in the meantime as to whether there was any culpable leak of information on the part of anybody which might have led to this undesirable publicity?
With so many gardaí assembled in the one place the Press could not ignore it.
(Interruptions.)
Was anything found?
I believe not.