Phone tap on prosecutor Margaret Cunneen sparked ICAC probe: report

Intercepted phone calls by federal police reportedly are what triggered the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption's failed attempt to pursue Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, SC.

The High Court yesterday ruled the corruption watchdog had no power to investigate the top silk, who it accused of advising her son's girlfriend to fake chest pains at a car crash scene in May 2014 to avoid police officers obtaining her blood alcohol level.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a joint Australian Federal Police and Australian Crime Commission task force had been targeting Ms Cunneen's then close personal friend, Steve Fletcher, a controversial gambling identity who has underworld connections.

Information reportedly obtained from phone taps indicated Ms Cunneen may have been involved in an attempt to pervert the course of justice and it was passed on to the ICAC last year for further investigation.

The car crash at the centre of the investigation was a collision between a pizza van and a vehicle being driven by Sophia Tilley, the girlfriend of Ms Cunneen's son. Ms Tilley was not at fault and had not been drinking.

With the High Court ruling going against the ICAC yesterday, the intercepted material relating to Ms Cunneen may now be passed onto the NSW Police for further consideration, the Herald reports.