GARDAÍ are probing claims that a person purporting to be Fine Gael Minister acted out in an abusive manner while trying to book a table at a restaurant, in what is being investigated as an alleged breach of the Postal and Telecommunications Act.
The alleged phone call was made to the restaurant located in the Minister’s West Limerick constituency on December 13th last, the night the County celebrated its second All Ireland hurling victory in three years.
Reliable sources said gardai are investigating claims the caller became abusive when informed the restaurant could not take the booking.
Minister of State with responsibility for Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan, confirmed to this reporter that he was aware of the Garda investigation into the claims.
Minister O’Donovan, who contacted gardai about the matter, said he was “not” the person who called the establishment.
The minister declined to make any further comment, adding it was “a Garda matter” and a “live investigation”.
When asked about the matter a garda spokesman replied: “Gardaí are investigating an incident involving a breach of the Postal and Telecommunications Act, 1983, which allegedly occurred at a restaurant in the Rathkeale area, 13th December 2020.”
They added that their “enquiries are ongoing”.
The premises could not be reached for comment.
Gardai are taking the investigation seriously and are attempting to try to trace the caller’s number.
Detectives in the Limerick Garda Division are also looking into entirely separate claims that a person purporting to be a HSE COVID-19 contact tracer contacted a private nursing home in the county, seeking COVID-19 case numbers among residents and staff.
