Gardaí send Leo Varadkar’s “leak” investigation file to DPP for decision on prosecution

DETECTIVES charged with prosecuting Tánaiste Leo Varadkar for leaking a confidential government document to his friend Dr. Maitiú Ó Tuathail have sent a file to the DPP, which will decide whether to charge an individual.

Officials from the specialized National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) are understood to have sent the Garda file to the prosecutor in recent days.

It can be shown that Gardaí did not recommend one possibility or the other, whether the Tánaiste or Dr. Ó Tuathail should be prosecuted. Instead, they “left the decision to the DPP”.

A Garda spokesman said: Independent.ie: “A Garda Síochána can confirm that an investigation file on this matter has been submitted to the public prosecutor for examination.

“As this matter is now being considered by the office of the DPP, An Garda Síochána will make no further comment.”

Mr Varadkar is being examined in April 2019 when he meets his friend Dr. Ó Tuathail, who was then head of a rival organization, the National Association, has leaked a confidential copy of a document setting out the details of the government’s proposed general practitioner contract with the Irish Medical Organization of general practitioners.

The long-running Garda investigation by a specialist team of officers initially assumed the investigation would be completed by the end of last summer. However, the probe was lengthened for a number of reasons. These included several individuals who made a number of additional supplementary statements.

Mr. Varadkar and Dr. Ó Tuathail were both questioned by Gardaí. Both phones were also examined by detectives. The Tánaiste has apologized for giving the contract details to Dr. Ó Tuathail, saying his legal advice was that he “did not commit an offence”.

Although Mr Varadkar has been accused by political opponents of breaching the Official Secrets Act, Gardaí are investigating whether he breached Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018.

It states that it is an offense to “use confidential information obtained in the course of your office, employment, position or business to corruptly obtain a gift, consideration or benefit for yourself or to obtain for another person”.