In December 1982, it emerged that the telephones of Geraldine Kennedy, journalist, and Bruce Arnold, journalist and political correspondent were being tapped with officially signed warrants signed by then Minister for Justice, Seán Doherty ostensibly to establish the source of cabinet leaks though largely to gain advance knowledge of possible challenges to then Taoiseach [Prime Minister] Charles Haughey's leadership of Fianna Fáil. This was revealed following a change of government as a result of the November general election. Kennedy and Arnold, along with his wife Mavis, sued the State for breach of privacy and were each awarded £20,000 with Mavis, whose private chats with friends was also recorded, receiving £10,000. A decade later, in 1992, the revelation that Haughey knew about the tapping and had seen transcripts led to his eventual resignation as then Taoiseach and from the party.
This legal action succeeded in breaking important new ground on the constitutional right to privacy and curbing a politically motivated abuse of State power.
Mary Robinson worked as one of two Senior Counsel, and material is arranged across four files.
[Archivist's note: This case is both contemporary and sensitive in nature and material in some files is therefore closed.]
