Garda whistleblower scandal

Material revealed by two Garda Síochána (Irish police) whistleblowers, as well as the handling of the material and of the whistleblowers, led directly to the resignation of the then Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter. It was also part of the background leading up to the resignation of the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan.

The ensuing scandal has helped contribute to:

It was one of a number of incidents at the time involving the Gardaí and the Minister for Justice.

Whistleblowers

Maurice McCabe

Maurice McCabe is a Garda Sergeant, recognised for being a whistleblower on corruption within the Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police force.

McCabe was station sergeant in Bailieborough, County Cavan. After becoming concerned about an investigation into a serious assault he made a complaint, then some more, a number of which were upheld. After McCabe made use of the "confidential recipient" system to express his concerns, his district superior ordered him to cease use of the Garda Pulse system on 14 December 2012. McCabe had used the system to examine files linked to large scale abuse of penalty points. On 30 December, two senior officers officially traveled from Westmeath to his house in Cavan, an unheard of event in the force, to tell him they were restricting his access to the Pulse system.[8]

McCabe later approached Taoiseach Enda Kenny and transport minister Leo Varadkar, who passed details on to justice minister Alan Shatter. Shatter asked for an internal garda inquiry into the penalty points complaints, with Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahoney failing to even interview McCabe. A letter from McCabe, read onto the Oireachtas record, said the way the matter had been handled had "destroyed me, my career and my family".[8] Shatter later wrongly accused McCabe of refusing to co-operate with his inquiry, a claim for which McCabe unsuccessfully sought an apology.[9][10]

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan suggested McCabe be appointed Callinan's successor as Garda Commissioner.[11][12]

John Wilson

John Wilson (born April 17, 1963)[13] is a former Garda, recognised for blowing the whistle on Penalty Points system irregularities within Ireland's national police force.

Wilson first brought information of Garda penalty points malpractice to the attention of members of Dáil Éireann under the Garda Siochána Act 2005 in 2012, having been unable to have the matter adequately handled within the Garda Complaints System. He left the force the following year, having served for more than 30 years (since 1982).[13][14] [15] In 2013, Wilson brought a High Court challenge to findings that he breached Garda discipline, but lost.[15]

Wilson later approached Taoiseach Enda Kenny and transport minister Leo Varadkar, who passed details on to justice minister Alan Shatter. Shatter asked for an internal garda inquiry into the penalty points complaints, with Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahoney failing to even interview Wilson.[8]

Wilson has recommended no tribunal but has called for an independent public inquiry. "Maybe an independent High Court judge; I would settle for that."[13] He has asked that motorists who benefited from the alleged "corruption of Gardaí" be interviewed.[16] He also called for an apology from Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the then justice minister Alan Shatter (who later resigned over the scandal and whom he says have "ridiculed" him for his actions).[17]

Guerin Report

In response to growing concern at mismanagement within the Gardaí arising from the whistleblower's allegations, the Guerin Report into corruption within the Garda Síochána (Ireland's national police force) was published on 9 May 2014. The looked only at issues raised by the serving Garda, Maurice McCabe.

The report, compiled by Sean Guerin SC, investigated allegations that serious crimes were improperly investigated by the police and was critical of the treatment of whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe, who was harassed and subjected to death threats after attempting to disclose information. The Irish justice minister Alan Shatter resigned in advance of its publication. His successor Frances Fitzgerald immediately announced the establishment of a Commission of Investigation.[18]

Guerin recommended the establishment of a comprehensive Commission of Investigation whose terms of reference ought to include “definite matters of urgent public importance” such as the case of Jerry McGrath, who was convicted of murdering Sylvia Roche-Kelly in Limerick while on bail in 2007.[19][20]

Guerin concluded: "No complex organisation can succeed in its task if it cannot find the means of heeding the voice of a member whose immediate supervisors hold in the high regard in which Sgt McCabe was held. Ultimately An Garda Síochána does not seem to have been able to do that. Nor does the Minister for Justice and Equality, despite his having an independent supervisory and investigation function with specific statutory powers. The same appears true of GSOC (Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission), although this review is hampered in that regard by the fact that GSOC has not made documentation available."[21]

On 13 May 2014, the government discussed the report at cabinet.[22][23] Maurice McCabe, the whistleblower whose work prompted the report, spoke of feeling vindicated "after six years of fighting the system".[24]

McCabe's fellow whistleblower John Wilson described the contents of the report as "disgusting, truly disgusting".[25]

On 15 May 2014, during a Dáil debate on the issue, Pearse Doherty named Garda Keith Harrison as the latest whistleblower.[26]

References

  1. ↑ "Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan resigns over whistleblower row". BBC News. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Irish police chief's resignation vindicates sacked investigative journalist". The Guardian. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Guerin report finds Shatter, gardaí failed to adequately investigate whistleblower claims". The Irish Times. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  4. ↑ Bohan, Christine (7 May 2014). "Explainer: Why Alan Shatter has resigned". The Journal. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Daly, Susan (9 May 2014). "Frances Fitzgerald sets up full inquiry and an independent Garda authority: The new Justice Minister announces plans for "new era of policing"". The Journal.ie. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  6. ↑ O'Halloran, Marie (13 May 2014). "Taoiseach has 'no problem' in apologising to Garda whistleblower". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Dáil Éireann Debate, May 13, 2014". Dáil Éireann. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 Clifford, Michael (25 January 2014). "Maurice McCabe's noble attempt to police gardaí". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  9. ↑ O'Connor, Niall (3 March 2014). "Whistleblower Maurice McCabe wants Dail record on remarks corrected". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  10. ↑ Ryan, Orla (12 March 2014). "'Do the honourable thing': Shatter told to apologise to Maurice McCabe - Micheál Martin said today's Garda Inspectorate report into penalty points 'vindicated' whistleblowers". The Journal. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  11. ↑ Conboy, Patrick (25 March 2014). "Luke 'Ming' Flanagan calls for McCabe to be appointed Garda Commissioner". Longford Leader. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Roscommon South Leitrim TD calls for Sgt Maurice McCabe to be made new Garda Commissioner". Shannonside. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 Kenny, Colum (5 May 2013). "Whistleblower garda had 'no choice' but to quit force". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  14. ↑ Ryan, Orla (10 March 2014). "'I'm up against it': Garda whistleblower to run in local elections - The former garda's revelations about penalty-point terminations in 2012 are now the subject of an official inquiry". The Journal. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  15. 1 2 Carolan, Mary (18 December 2013). "Court challenge brought by Garda whistleblower". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  16. ↑ Lally, Conor (28 January 2014). "Interview drivers with terminated points, urges Wilson". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "'We were ridiculed. I want an apology' .: Whistleblower Wilson". BreakingNews.ie. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  18. ↑ "Commission of Investigation to be established following Guerin Report". RTÉ News. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  19. ↑ Duncan, Pamela (9 May 2014). "Guerin report: main findings". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  20. ↑ Daly, Susan (10 May 2014). "Jerry McGrath: The escalating horror and failures that led to a murder". The Journal.ie. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Guerin exposes failures in Gardai and Government". Irish Independent. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Listen: Government to discuss Guerin Report at cabinet today". RTÉ News. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  23. ↑ "Findings of Guerin report to dominate this morning's Cabinet meeting". The Journal.ie. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  24. ↑ Collins, Stephen; Siggins, Lorna; McGee, Harry; Labanyi, David (10 May 2014). "Whistleblower feels vindicated after 'six years fighting system'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Garda whistleblower John Wilson: The contents of the Guerin report are truly disgusting". Irish Independent. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Pearse Doherty names garda whistleblower in Dáil debate". RTÉ News. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.

External links

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