Gardai take broadcaster to court for contempt

SIX gardai were yesterday granted leave by the Dublin High Court to seek the jailing of the Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne, presenter of the Channel 4 RTE programme The Late Late Show, after their counsel claimed that a broadcast interview involved 'a simply horrifying' contempt, writes Alan Murdoch.

Last Monday, Mr Byrne interviewed Osgur Breathnach, who is bringing an action against eight gardai alleging false imprisonment - he was jailed for 12 years in 1980 for the 1976 Sallins mail train robbery, but released on appeal in 1982. Mr Byrne allegedly suggested that if there was a public inquiry documents 'would be lost through floorboards'.

Mr Justice Geoghegan allowed the contempt application to go ahead on 14 June.