Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

It has been raised multiple times in the House. He was in Ireland and it is admitted he was in Ireland on multiple occasions. He participated in the Shell to Sea protests in the Taoiseach's constituency. He organised meetings here in the run-up to the protest in Gleneagles at the G8 in 2005. He was arrested by the Garda in Dublin on 3 May 2004. Sarah Hampton, a US citizen, met Mark Kennedy in Ireland in 2005. On Monday, in a statement read out in Dublin she said:

Finding out that Mark was an undercover police officer brought about a deep depression that seemed impossible to navigate, there were times I almost gave up completely. The process of seeking justice on this case has felt at times belittling, intimidating and downright scary. ... I felt I had been raped. I never consented to sleeping with a police officer.

He had other intimate relationships in Ireland based on a lie and an abuse of power. This political policing targeted at left wing and environmental activists breached their right to privacy in this State, which is enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. Those affected are seeking answers and justice. Mark Kennedy was not just one bad apple. He was part of a system of political policing and abuse of rights. As well as him, we know of at least three other undercover British police officers who operated in this State - Jim Boyling, Mark Jenners and John Dines. There is a huge number of unanswered questions here. The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality has confirmed the Garda was aware of Mark Kennedy's presence. On what basis and on whose authority did he have permission to operate here? Did the Garda know of other undercover officers? Was anybody convicted of any crimes as a result of any evidence or actions? Fifty-six convictions or prosecutions have been overturned in Britain as a result of his involvement. I have two questions. Can we have the publication of the report commissioned in 2011 by the Garda Commissioner into his activities and can we have a commitment to publish the report that is currently ongoing? Will the Irish Government join with the other countries affected in requesting the extension of the Pitchford inquiry to the actions of these undercover officers in this State?

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