asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of newspaper reports on 10th and 11th October, 1976, of the finding in a Dún Laoghaire dump of alleged top secret Garda files from Shankill garda station; if any Garda investigation has been undertaken into these reports; and if he will state the outcome of the investigation.
Written Answers. - Garda Files Find.
114.
I am informed that some old Garda records and other documents which had been set aside for incineration in the station were inadvertently taken from the station by employees of the Office of Public Works who were collecting refuse for dumping. The mistake appears to have been due to a misunderstanding in relation to a request made to one of the OPW workmen by a garda and no blame attaches to the workmen. The papers were of a kind that would be regarded as confidential but they were not "top secret" ones as suggested in some published reports. This was an isolated incident and I have no doubt that an adequate standard of care is exercised throughout the force in regard to confidential documents though, in order to ensure an even higher standard for the future, the Commissioner has issued a reminder on the subject to officers in the Dublin Metropolitan area.