Gardaí To Investigate Ryan 'Drug Exposé'

The Irish police have announced this morning they will investigate allegations they "turned a blind eye" to cocaine use by the late Gerry Ryan.

In a statement this morning, a Gardaí spokesman said it will be looking into the allegations published in the Sunday Independent yesterday, which claimed members of the force had protected public figures, including Gerry Ryan, from investigation over drug use.

The 2FM DJ Ryan, did from a heart arrhythmia, which was being linked to the well known presenter's use of cocaine in an inquest earlier this year.

In a statement this morning, Sergeant Gerry Curley described the allegations as "serious" and said they were made without "any apparent basis in fact".

"The scenarios put forward in this morning's article fail to take account of An Garda Síochána's strong record in the fight against the importation of and dealing in illegal drugs, including cocaine.

"We continue to put operations and investigations in place to combat and disrupt the illegal drug trade as well as the associated organised and violent criminality. The proof of that commitment and work can be seen in the courts and in the prisons every day."

Sergeant Curley added that in light of the "gravity and prominence" of the allegations published yesterday, the Garda Commissioner has asked the Assistant Commissioner in the Dublin Metropolitan Region to task a Detective Superintendent to speak to the journalists and editor of the Sunday Independent and to give them an opportunity to substantiate their allegations.

"Clearly, we take any allegation of misconduct very seriously and anyone who has evidence of wrongdoing on the part of a member of the Gardaí or of any criminal activity on the part of any individual, should inform Gardaí in order that the matter can be thoroughly investigated," the Sergeant said.

The allegation was contained in an article, which suggested senior figures in the gardai and Department of Justice privately believed that a small number of corrupt gardai protected rich and public figures with drug habits.

(DW/BMcC)