Sickening betrayal
Whistleblowers give you information that can risk life and livelihood. Protecting the identity of a source is a sacred oath and the most precious capital of an investigative journalist. The suspected breach of my emails feels like a...
to their former reporters? My transition from hero to zero in INM was put in perspective and my reputation redeemed when my concerns about corporate governance in INM after May 2012 – when Mr O’Brien became a majority shareholder – were aired last week. Next week the first moves to examine the corporate governance of INM will be brought to the High Court. A judge will decide whether or not inspectors will be appointed to investigate the newspaper group.
Already, 19 persons of interest, including journalists, barristers, former INM board and staff members are alleged to have had their emails breached. Further lists and more names are expected to emerge. An affidavit by Ian Drennan, head of the ODCE, has alleged that INM’s former chairman Mr Buckley ordered the harvesting of data from the company’s server in 2014 and he told the ODCE that it was part of ‘a cost-reduction exercise’.
And we now know that an Isle of Man company owned by Mr O’Brien, Blaydon, paid the bill for the trawl and analysis of the data harvested on Mr Buckley’s orders.
This unprecedented corporate crisis in INM also leaves the former chairman and its largest shareholder facing serious questions about the ethos and corporate governance in the company. Foreign governments and investors will want to know how this State regulates business.
They will also note that the investigation into allegations of a data breach come at a time when Ireland is accused of being a tax haven.
And potential investors will want to know if our current implementation of corporate governance adequately protects their assets and interests.
Ultimately, it is the first real test of the Taoiseach – and his response to the breach of data furore will be a measure of his character.
And with an election expected in months, Mr Varadkar will be competing with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to claim the high moral ground in Irish politics.
The leader of Fianna Fáil has been questioning the Government’s relationship with Mr O’Brien, INM and his other business interests.
And that leaves the Taoiseach with a tough call: Does he take the high road by declaring the Latin maxim: ‘Fiat justice ruat caelum’ – ‘Let justice be done though the heaven’s fall’.
Or will it be business as usual in INM’s boardroom and Government Buildings?