Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I know. There are cases in which people who are brought to Garda stations and charged with crimes are told by their cohorts or bosses in crime that they have to demand a copy of the interview tape from the Garda. The crime bosses want the tapes so they can ensure that those who were interviewed did not squeal on other people who were involved in the offence. There are legitimate circumstances in which an accused person is willing to make a statement off tape only. It is not the case that the person's reasons for that are necessarily fanciful or contrived.

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