The Garda Commissioner has issued a statement this afternoon regarding the arrangements made for Jean Treacy when she gave evidence at the trial of Eamon Lillis.

The 32-year-old masseuse was brought in through a back entrance to avoid the glare of the huge media interest in the trial.

Fachtna Murphy is warning that it would be a grave development if individuals were to be dissuaded from giving evidence because of a fear that their privacy would be the price they would have to pay.

He says the decisions that were made were operational and he fully supports them.

He says Jean Treacy was transported to and from the court and that the driver of the garda vehicle carrying the witness away from the court observed a car in pursuit and radioed local gardaí to check the bona fides of its occupants.

When local gardaí made efforts to stop the car, it diverted down a side road.

He said the circumstances which gave rise to the decision were peculiar to the case and are unlikely to arise again with any regularity.

He also said that Gardai are very grateful to people who come forward to give evidence and that by doing so they shouldn’t become a public figure, and when there evidence is finished they should be free to resume their lives without intrusion.