Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the allegations of Garda misconduct given to him by Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin are "grave" and will be dealt with.
However, Mr Kenny said he had yet to decide what course of action to take over the claims which Mr Martin says show “abduction, assault and ultimately murder” have not been properly investigated.
Separately, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore rejected Fianna Fáil calls for Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to consider his position.
Mr Martin passed the information given to him by Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe to Mr Kenny, and the Taoiseach said he has “no intention of playing politics with an issue as serious as this”.
Speaking today, Mr Kenny said Mr Martin was right to have done so, and said the documents contain “extremely serious allegations”.
“These documents are now being examined and the allegations contained tehrein are very grave,” Mr Kenny said, adding that people with other information should come forward.
“I have to say that in the case of Deputy Michéal Martin that he was right to hand over this documentation so I would say to him and to anybody else and to everybody else that if there is any other relevant material in their possession that they should come forward and make that material known.
“The incidents contained in the material given to me refer to a period from 2007 through to 2008 and 2009 so I have a duty and a responsibility both as a public representative and a citizen and as someone who happens to be Taoiseach to examine this documentation very carefully indeed. And when I have that done I will decide in the best way that these comments or allegations can be dealt with.
“I have no intention of playing any politics with an issue as serious as this. We’ll deal with it in the interests of our State, of our country and our people.”
Mr Gilmore, speaking in Brussels, said “very serious allegations have been made, I think the information that has been provided contains some very serious matters”.
“I think that in the first instance, if there is any further information, which either opposition parties have or indeed anybody else has that needs to be looked into that that information should be provided,” the Tánaiste added.
