Garda authorities are investigating how details of an assault on the 14-year-old son of the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, were published in a newspaper last Monday after the boy gave a statement to gardaí on the incident.
Gardaí confirmed last Monday that they were investigating the unprovoked attack by a group of four youths in Ranelagh, Dublin, last week. Gardaí are understood to have questioned one teenager in connection with the attack.
The Garda confirmation followed a report on the incident in the Star newspaper. The Garda Commissioner is understood to have ordered an investigation into how details of the incident were given to that newspaper amid concern that they could have emanated from within the force after the boy made a statement at a local Garda station.
Mr McDowell is believed to have been annoyed at the publication. It is understood his son was initially reluctant to report the matter because of fears that it would receive publicity. However, it was officially reported to gardaí last Thursday week.
A spokesman for the Minister yesterday rejected a report that Mr McDowell instructed a garda on duty outside his home to "hop along now" earlier this week. He said the Minister had a policy of not discussing publicly his personal security arrangements, but he had not used such language to a member of the force.
The report of this alleged incident, in yesterday's Star, claimed Mr McDowell had made the remark when telling the garda that he no longer wanted security at his house.