A GARDA INVESTIGATION IS TO BE CARRIED OUT INTO A CONVERSATION BETWEEN A NUMBER OF GARDAI IN NORTH MAYO DURING WHICH A NUMBER OF THEM WERE ALLEGEDLY RECORDED JOKING ABOUT RAPING A WOMAN.

A COMPLAINT WAS MADE FOLLOWING THE ARREST OF TWO WOMEN AT A PROTEST OVER THE CONTROVERSIAL CORRIB GAS PROJECT AT AUGHOOSE LAST THURSDAY.

THE TWO WOMEN ARRESTED  WERE TAKEN TO BELMULLET GARDA STATION BUT WERE RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE.

ON RELEASE, THEY WERE GIVEN BACK A VIDEO CAMERA THEY HAD WITH THEM AT THE TIME.

THE WOMEN CLAIM THAT WHEN THEY REPLAYED THE RECORDING SOME TIME LATER, THEY FOUND IT HAD APPARENTLY RECORDED THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN A NUMBER OF GARDAI IN A CAR.

IT WAS CONFIRMED LAST NIGHT THAT A SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO EXAMINE THE FULL FACTS OF THE MATTER.

THE INVESTIGATION WILL PROBE WHETHER THE RECORDING, WHICH LASTS 37 MINUTES, IS AUTHENTIC AND WILL EXAMINE ITS CONTENTS.