Minister orders 'free trips' inquiries
The Justice Minister has ordered a number of inquiries into allegations that five members of the gardai and a senior civilian employee accepted free foreign trips.
A Sunday newspaper alleged a number of holidays were paid for by a tyre company, which is the main supplier for the force.
Minister John O'Donoghue told the Dail last night that, while a garda investigation was already underway, the internal audit unit of his department was also looking into the matter.
He has also discussed arranging an independent examination of the matter from a financial point of view.
