Why hasn't Rupert Murdoch’s kingmaker in Ireland been investigated in Ireland?
Former News Int. Exec. and alleged hacker Alex Marunchak
Alex Marunchak is a Ukrainian national who rose to the top of Rupert Murdoch’s News International media organisation from the 1980s through to 2006. (He was also vetted by MI5, subject to the Official Secrets Act and employed by London’s Metropolitan police as a translator/interpreter for whom he worked for nearly 20 years).
Long standing Cic Saor aficionados will already be familiar with Marunchak. Not least the allegation made on this blog (and also broadcast by the BBC’s Panorama programme in 2011) that News International’s Dublin office was used as a kind of offshore hacking centre with a large amount of illegally obtained media information being sent there. These allegations partly arise from evidence presented at the Leveson hacking inquiry.
Clare Daly - A socialist TD who dares to go where others fear to tread
But what readers will not be aware of is the fact that Clare Daly TD (Teachta Dála – MP) for North Dublin has submitted written questions to both minister for justice Alan Shatter and minister for communications Pat Rabbitte asking why no investigation has been carried out on Irish soil into a media executive who has not only been strongly linked to hacking, illegal surveillance and bribes, and other criminal activities in England but who was also a key player in Irish media and political life.
The silence from the Irish authorities and media regarding Marunchak is astonishing given the worldwide publicity that was generated after his arrest in 2012 on foot of very serious allegations. Alex Marunchak was a well known figure in the capital and was regarded by many commentators as the key link man between Rupert Murdoch and Bertie Ahern and his Fianna Fáil party. In much the same way that Rebekah Brookes (now facing imminent trial in England over hacking) was linked to David Cameron.
But as my readers will know, that is not my main concern with Marunchak. What I want to know, (given that Marunchak basically paid or approved News International’s cheques in Ireland) is how many FRU spooks, Special Branch and secret informers did he have on his payroll and what exactly were they being paid for? It is to my certain knowledge that Marunchak made payments to at least one FRU spook during his Dublin reign.
Here now is Clare Daly’s question to minister Pat Rabbitte and his astounding response as communications minister, which effectively says that hacking has nothing to do with either his department or his role as communications minister:
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Subject: Alex Marunchak
* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 2nd October, 2013.
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte
- Clare Daly.
* Ref No:41403/13
To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there has been any investigation by Irish authorities regarding the dealings of a former prominent senior executive editor in Irish media circles (details regarding Alex Marunchak supplied).
Pat Rabbitte - Headlights?
Minister for communications Pat Rabbitte’s reply:
“Any criminal investigation such as the one referred to in this case by the Deputy is a matter for An Garda Síochána and not one in which my Department or I, as Minister, have a role.”
I rest my case
@Paul Larkin
Carrick
Gaoth Dobhair
Mí Deireadh Fómhair 2013