Trevor Sargent
Ceist:11 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice the reason an item of mail was tampered with while being sent to an MP in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Interference with Mail.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 2 December 1993, the Dublin-Dundalk passenger-mail train was interfered with near Balbriggan and a large number of mail bags were thrown off along the line. The gardaí recovered 23 mail bags; all of the bags had been opened, the registered mail removed and some other items of mail had been interfered with. All recovered mail was handed over to the postal authorities. The explanatory stamp on the item of mail in question indicates that this item was among the mail which was recovered. No item of mail was opened by the gardaí.
Can the Minister say what progress has been made in the Garda investigation which I assume has been embarked upon? In the case referred to, a letter to an MP was very carefully opened and a message stamped on afterwards to the effect that the item was delayed due to a mail robbery. For the sake of public confidence in the postal service and the general welfare of cross-Border relations, will the Minister consider providing greater security on the mail train and affixing to envelopes which have been opened a detailed note saying why the envelope came to be opened?
As a former Minister for Communications with responsibility for An Post I appreciate the importance of ensuring confidence in our postal system. This is also important to me as Minister for Justice. In the incident referred to, 23 mail bags were interfered with. The Garda recovered 11 mail bags on the rail line, all of which had been slit open and registered mail removed and the other 12 mail bags were recovered at various locations along the River Boyne. Each had been opened and in the case of some of the bags, their contents had been interfered with. All of the recovered mail was then handed over by the Garda Síochána to An Post and I am assured by the Garda authorities no item of mail was opened by a member of the Garda Síochána. Any suggestion to the contrary is a most serious one and should not be made lightly.
I am not making any imputation against the Garda but I would like the public to be reassured that letters which have been opened have been opened illegally. Has anyone been apprehended for this crime or are charges pending?
No charges are pending as of now. The matter is still under investigation. Of course, members of the public need to be reassured that the handling of all mail is done with the utmost security in mind, whether or not the items of mail become the subject of a robbery. The public have to be assured that mail is not being tampered with by either an employee of An Post or a member of the Garda Síochána.