Cowen says leak of Garda report is ‘criminal act’
‘Attempt to cause me political harm’
AGRICULTURE Minister Barry Cowen has said he did not try to evade gardaí when caught for drink driving in 2016.
He was responding to a Sunday newspaper article, which he said was false, and he said a garda may have illegally leaked the information.
Yesterday’s statement read: ‘The Sunday Times has today published an article referring to an incorrect Garda record dealing with the incident which occurred on 18 September 2016, despite the fact that my solicitors wrote to the newspaper in advance of publication.
‘I did not evade, or attempt to evade, a garda. Such an act would constitute a serious criminal offence and I was not charged with such an offence. On being informed of its existence, I sought a copy of this incorrect record and am taking steps under the Data Protection Act to have it corrected.
‘This incorrect Garda record can only have come into the possession of the newspaper through a criminal act. It is a criminal offence for a member of An Garda Síochána to disclose any information obtained in the course of his or her duties. I am informed that An Garda Síochána has commenced a criminal investigation into the source of this leak.
‘It is obvious that the disclosure of this information at this time, in flagrant breach of the criminal law and my rights under data protection law, is a disgraceful attempt to cause me the maximum personal and political harm.
‘By publishing this story, the Sunday Times has consciously participated in, and facilitated, this and I will be instructing my lawyers to take all necessary steps to vindicate my good name and data protection rights.’
A Garda spokesman confirmed that a ‘preliminary examination’ of how the information was obtained has begun and that the matter would be referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.