Garda use of controversial spying powers has dropped dramatically over the past two years following a landmark High Court ruling in December 2018. That decision, stemming from a case taken by convicted murderer Graham Dwyer, declared that the State’s power to access telephone data for the investigation of serious crime breached European laws. Figures provided by the Department of Justice to the Irish Examiner show disclosures of communication data to State agencies fell by more than 60% since the decision. It may include figures on internet data for the investigation of serious crime, but this is not clear. Following a State appeal, the Supreme Court referred the legal issue to the European Court of Justice.

Source: Irish Examiner March 17, 2021 06:30 UTC