Posted by Big Read: Leo the leak: Will he sink or swim?
The Tánaiste’s entire political career hinges on the outcome of the ongoing Garda investigation, says Hugh O’Connell
WHATEVER YOU SAY, SAY NOTHING: Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA
March 21 2021 02:30 AM
On November 2 last year, the day before Leo Varadkar apologised in the Dáil for leaking a confidential Government document to a friend, a woman who does not wish to be identified filed a complaint to An Garda Síochána alleging the Tánaiste had breached the Official Secrets Act and the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act.
Her complaint was based on a Village magazine article published the previous Saturday, October 31, outlining how Varadkar had in early April 2019 sent a copy of an agreement between the Government and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) on a new GP contract to Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail – who was then president of the IMO’s rival organisation, the National Association of GPs (NAGP).
The Village article included screen grabs of text messages Ó Tuathail exchanged with Varadkar and separate group texts with fellow NAGP members – including a picture of the document, which was marked “confidential/not for circulation”.
