A High Court judge has asked for information about an allegation that a senior garda shared a photograph taken inside a courtroom of a whistleblower and three people accompanying the man.
Any audio or visual recording of court proceedings is forbidden under the court rules.
Conor Duff, for Det Chief Supt Brian O’Reilly, told Judge Micheál O’Higgins at the High Court on Wednesday that he was putting the respondents, the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, on notice of the matter and sought the court’s direction on how to proceed.
Duff said O’Reilly, who has made protected disclosures regarding the safety of gun holsters used by the force, received the photo from another garda who is allegedly part of a WhatsApp group with Supt Liam White.
The barrister said the image allegedly originated from an account associated with White, who had asked members of the group to identify one of the men seen with O’Reilly.
Duff said he was not aware if other similar images existed in the group, but said he wanted to bring the matter to the judge’s attention.
Duff said the image showed three individuals accompanying O’Reilly in court, and that the account associated with White referenced one of the individuals and stated: “I recognise the face, but I don’t know the name.”
The barrister said it was clear the image was taken inside a courtroom and said a “confidential” individual told his client that White had taken the photo and inquired as to the identity of the individual.
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