John O'Donoghue, Announced formal inquiry by Supreme Court judge
The Minister for Justice has announced that the Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice Frank Murphy, is to be asked to conduct a formal inquiry into the controversy surrounding the issuing of a pub licence for Jack White's Inn. The licence was issued to Catherine Nevin by the district court Judge Donnacha O Buachalla in 1997.
Judge Donnacha O Buachalla resumed his court sittings this morning. The judge confirmed that he met Judge Peter Smithwick in connection with the ongoing investigation into the issuing of the licence for Jack White's Inn in to Catherine Nevin.
The Cabinet met today to consider the controversy. The Garda Commissioner and the Chief Executive of the Courts Service have now submitted their reports to the Minister for Justice on the issuing of the license for Jack White's Inn. Both indicate that Gardaí and court officials were concerned at the way Judge Donnacha O Buachalla issued the license to Catherine Nevin in 1997. And they expressed their reservations to the Judge at the time. The Judge however has said that the application was dealt with in open court with no objection from Gardaí.
The President of the District court, Judge Peter Smithwick, has interviewed Judge O Buachalla and has sent a letter to the Minister for the Justice explaining that because of the complexity of the matter and the need to interview more people his report is not yet ready.
