An experienced investigator with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has resigned after he told people he had attended a party that Gerard Hutch was at last Monday night.
Mr Hutch was found not guilty of the murder of David Byrne that day and walked free from the Special Criminal Court.
The Department of Justice has confirmed it is aware of the incident.
The officer, who has been involved in several major investigations into potential garda misconduct, told a number of people that he had been at a house party that Mr Hutch attended.
The claim came to the attention of other members of staff in GSOC and was reported to senior management.
The chairman and the other two commissioners were informed and a formal process commenced.
The investigator, who has worked with GSOC for the past number of years, was due to be suspended and would have to surrender his phone and identity card.
He took the decision to resign instead and his resignation has been accepted.
It is not clear whether the GSOC investigator actually attended a party or just said he had attended a party that was also attended by Mr Hutch.
However, the issue has raised major concerns in GSOC because of the potential for compromise or a security breach at the organisation, and is being taken very seriously.
GSOC confirmed that it has begun an internal investigation into the matter.
In a statement, it said: "GSOC became aware in recent days of a potential conflict of interest involving a staff member.
"GSOC immediately commenced an internal investigation into the matter.
"The officer concerned has now submitted their resignation and GSOC's investigation is ongoing."
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
The Garda’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Garda Anti Corruption Unit are currently investigation suspected leaks of confidential garda information to members of the Hutch organised crime group.
Four serving members of the gardaí are currently suspended.
However, GSOC investigators have all the powers of the members of the gardaí, including powers of arrest and detention and have access to highly confidential and sensitive garda and GSOC information.
The officer was involved in a number of highly sensitive investigations into An Garda Síochána, including the investigation into the death of Superintendent Colm Fox, who took his own life in Ballymun Garda Station in 2019.
Supt Fox was the lead detective in the investigation into the murder of Byrne at the Regency Hotel during the time Patrick Hutch Junior was charged and appeared in court.
The case against Patrick Hutch Junior collapsed following the death of Supt Fox.
Garda Headquarters has said it was aware of the incident.
A spokesperson for the Minister for Justice said he and the Department were notified of an issue with a staff member yesterdayand that it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.
The incident was first reported on the Irish Mirror's website yesterday evening.
