A STATEMENT by a double killer admitting he caused the deaths of two Dublin women was leaked to certain newspapers two months before it was proven in court, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Mr Justice Paul Carney said it was "manifestly clear" Michael Bambrick's statements admitting he killed Patricia McGauley and Mary Cummins in Dublin between 1991 and 1993 was leaked and this was "grossly improper".
In statements to gardai, Bambrick admitted both women died after he tied them up and stuffed tights into their mouths during sexual intercourse. He said he then cut up their bodies, and dumped them in West Dublin.
The statements were read to the Central Criminal Court on July 17th last, although extensive details from them were published on May 4th and 5th.
In court yesterday, Mr Justice Carney said Bambrick, when making his statements, was told anything he might say would be written down and might be used in evidence. However, details of the statements appeared in the newspapers before they were proven in court, he said.
The judge said he was entitled to have the statement proven before him in court and not "pedalled" in tabloid newspapers and, appearing extensively, in a newspaper "claiming to be a broadsheet".
He said a senior garda had accepted the statement was leaked and an investigation into the matter was continuing, which he hoped would be taken seriously.
The judge indicated he would not be seeking action against any reporters involved in the publication Bambrick (43), formerly of St Ronan's Park, Clondalkin, Co Dublin, but now of no fixed abode, admitted the manslaughter of Patricia McGauley and Mary Cummins when he appeared before the Central Criminal Court on May 3rd last in a brief hearing.
Sentence was adjourned and will be imposed tomorrow. No evidence was heard on May 3rd, but the following day substantial details of the case appeared in certain newspapers.
In court yesterday, Mr Patrick Marrinan BL, prosecuting, said gardai had carried out a full investigation into the matter.
He called Det Supt James Murphy who said gardai had examined articles in the Irish Independent, the Star and Sunday World newspapers regarding the matter. They had also sought to contact journalists from the Daily. Mirror but had not been successful to date.
He said a front page article in the Irish Independent of May 4th attributed to three reporters, as well as other articles, contained quotes attributable to Bambrick's cautioned statement made to gardai.
An article in the Star of May 4th appeared to contain some of the information from Bambrick's statement and an article in the Sunday World of May 5th also contained references to Bambrick's crimes. It was difficult to establish how much of that article might have been "lifted" from the Irish Independent.
An article in the Daily Mirror regarding the matter could also be regarded as offensive but gardai had been unable to contact those involved at this stage.
Det Murphy said several reporters had been interviewed and some had declined to disclose sources. He added gardai had excluded court reporter, Ms Mary Carolan of Ireland International News Agency, as the source of the information from Bambrick's statements.
He said gardai who took statements from Bambrick had been interviewed and all denied any responsibility. Three other persons who gave interviews to newspapers on the case would have had certain information but would not have had access to the statements. However, up to 100 gardai were involved in the Bambrick investigation and it had not been possible to interview all at this stage.
He agreed with Mr Justice Carney that the statements did appear to have been leaked.