Stepaside statement written weeks in advance

A statement welcoming the controversial reopening of a garda station in Shane Ross’s constituency was prepared weeks in advance, new emails show.

The cabinet agreed to reopen Stepaside garda station on June 13 last, despite only having an interim report from the Garda Commissioner on the reopening of six stations. It followed an intense lobbying campaign by the Minister for Transport.

The decision was one of Enda Kenny’s last as Taoiseach and came ...