This newspaper published a memo from a senior Quinn Direct manager Kevin Lunney which outlined how a panel of senior gardai . . .

mainly retired, but some still serving . . . were accessing detailed information on road traffic crashes from the force's computer systems. It also stated that the company had "designed and are implementing" an incentivisation scheme for claimants' solicitors to induce the quick settlement of claims.

As he read the story, it didn't take the Tanaiste and minister for justice long to grasp the seriousness of its content; within hours he was on the phone to the garda commissioner Noel Conroy. McDowell later told the Dail that he regarded the story "as a matter of the utmost gravity" and that the commissioner shared his view that the allegations in the article "were of the utmost gravity concerning an abuse of position".

Quinn Direct was also clearly regarding the story with the "utmost gravity". A spokesman for the company told the Irish Times that it was to sue over the allegations. It claimed that the memo published in the Sunday Tribune was not authentic. However, the editor of this newspaper, Noirin Hegarty, told the Irish Times that the Sunday Tribune was certain of the authenticity of the memo and stood by its story.

On Monday evening, a letter was delivered to the offices of the Sunday Tribune from Mason Hayes & Curran, solicitors for Quinn Direct, managing director Sean Quinn and Kevin Lunney. The solicitors said they had been instructed by their clients that the memo was "not an authentic document" and was not written, drafted or signed by Lunney. It went on to add:

"Mr Lunney is unequivocal in his belief that he never authored, or signed, or issued any such memorandum." The letter said that unless a series of demands were met by the Sunday Tribune, "we are instructed to sue".

The following day, it emerged that the data protection commissioner had written to Quinn Direct about the Sunday Tribune's story that it had obtained privileged garda information on road traffic accidents. And by Wednesday morning, the Irish Timeswas reporting that Noel Conroy had ordered an inquiry.

The issue was raised in the Dail later that morning by Sinn Fein's Caoimhghin O Caolain and the Tanaiste, standing in for the Taoiseach, was unequivocal in his response, promising a full inquiry (see story below).

"I want to say that of course it would be a breach of the official secrets act and the data protection act for any garda to engage in that behaviour. It would also be a breach of garda discipline and simple, straightforward ethics for any garda to behave in that way, " he said.

While McDowell referred to Quinn Direct's claim that the document was a forgery, he said that if the memo was genuine, "one could only conclude that a very serious scandal had been in position for some time". He added that it "would be entirely wrong for any insurance company to enter into a financial arrangement with any serving member of An Garda Siochana for such information to be imparted to it".

In some of the following day's newspapers, the managing director of the Quinn Group, Sean Quinn, published an open letter repeating the company's claim that the memo was a forgery and describing the allegations as "ridiculous".

He concluded the letter: "I can again assure our staff, our customers and the public in general that we will continue to run our group to the highest ethical standards as we have over the last 34 years."

But the matter was raised again in the Dail on Thursday afternoon on the adjournment debate by Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party, who referred to "explosive allegations", adding: "I believe the memo is not a forgery and that the claims in the Sunday Tribune will stand up to scrutiny."

Higgins went on to say that it was "undeniable" that insurance companies' profits have rocketed in recent years. "I have no doubt ruthless measures used by various groups were an important factor. This is not about eliminating fraudulent claims but about pressurising ordinary, genuine people with genuine claims to settle for much less, " he said.

Higgins also added that in 2005, another major insurance company "awarded a lucrative contract worth approximately 40,000 to a recently retired, very senior member of the Garda Siochana to assemble a panel of claims investigators for that company. Meetings of retired and serving gardai were held in the second half of 2005 to advance this."

On Thursday Quinn Direct, Sean Quinn and Kevin Lunney issued proceedings against Tribune Newspapers plc, Noirin Hegarty, Michael Clifford and Conor McMorrow.

By the end of the week, the message emanating from the Quinn Group was that the document was released by a disgruntled former employee.