Suspected attempt to secretly listen to or record conversations of Seamus Mallon at a house in Howth.
Seamus Mallon of the SDLP was staying in Howth while attending sessions of the New Ireland Forum. He has not disclosed the exact address to protect the identity of the people he stayed with. Allegations were made in the Sunday Tribune newspaper that the house where he was staying had been bugged.
There was an attempt to bug the house where Seamus Mallon was staying.
Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald said that when he became aware of the allegations, he asked the Minister for Justice to investigate the matter. In a statement to Gardaí, a post office engineer said that he found a wire running from the carpet in a room in the house to a point outside the house. He expressed his view that it looked as if the house was being set up for a robbery.
Seamus Mallon also responded saying that the original information passed on to the Taoiseach stated that a microphone and transmitter had been found in the house. These items were passed on to the Gardaí. He also said he has negatives of photographs of both the microphone and transmitter.
Government press secretary Peter Prendergast says that the Taoiseach is carrying out a full and thorough investigation. The Garda investigation continues.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 19 February 1984. The reporter is Joe O'Brien.
