Former Minister Pat Carey Receives Garda Apology Over Leak

Friday, 16 June 2023 17:06

By Kate Dooley

Former Fianna Fáil minister Pat Carey has received damages, believed to be about €250,000, and an apology from the Garda Commissioner.

All his legal costs under a settlement of his action over two newspaper articles relating to a criminal investigation have also been paid.

The Garda Commissioner has apologised before the High Court to Mr Carey for the "severe and wholly unjustified distress" the former TD suffered after information in relation to a Garda investigation made its way into the public domain.

Mr Carey had claimed in High Court proceedings his privacy and confidentiality was breached in articles published in 2015 concerning a Garda investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse involving an ex-government minister.

Mr Carey was not named in the reports, but claims he had to make a public statement rejecting the innuendo that surrounded him following their publication, as well as having to step down from roles he held at the time.

Following the conclusion of the Garda investigation, the DPP informed Mr Carey, who at all times strongly rejected any allegations of wrong-doing, that no charges were to be brought against him.

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