National media reported last Wednesday that a senior official from Wicklow County Council was arrested in connection with an investigation into the deaths of two fire fighters in the county in 2007.

It was some senior official – and it took the local press to report that the person arrested was in fact the County Manager, Eddie Sheehy.

Two issues here that interest me, until a few years ago the names of anyone arrested would generally not be reported until any charges were made. However things have changed a lot especially when one considers the coverage of the arrest of Sean Fitzpatrick.

How come the local press reported on their front pages the name of the official arrested but the nationals didn’t? What are the norms to be in these matters in future?

The matter under investigation is an emotional one for the families and friends involved – which may explain the local papers interest in it – but I find it interesting that the name was not reported by RTE, Irish Times etc. It’s a case that gained national attention and the position held by the manager is significant and well rewarded. It’s not the first time that someone has been arrested in the investigation with previous arrests reported in 2008.