Shatter to stand over handling of whistleblower’s complaints

Justice Minister Alan Shatter is expected to stand over his department’s handling of a Garda whistleblower’s complaints and make a statement to the Dáil tomorrow.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said yesterday the issue of how Sgt Maurice McCabe’s claims about Garda malpractice were handled was “being addressed as a matter of urgency”.

The handling of his complaints is also expected to be discussed by the Cabinet and comes amid opposition demands for a full, independent inquiry.

Mr Shatter’s department and the Department of the Taoiseach are conducting two separate reviews on how Sgt McCabe’s claims — including cases relating to murder and assault — were handled. The reviews come after a dossier on the malpractice claims were given to Enda Kenny by Fianna Fáil last week.

One centres on how a man on bail murdered mother-of-two Sylvia Roche Kelly in Limerick in 2007. Her husband, Lorcan, is suing the State for €4m amid claims that her killer should have been in custody.

Justice and Garda sources yesterday cited letters sent to Sgt McCabe in December 2012 which they said backed up Mr Shatter’s position.

One letter on December 17 from Department of Justice assistant secretary general Michael Flahive said 11 of 12 claims were investigated by gardaí and there was “no evidence of corruption or malpractice”.

A senior Garda source claimed another letter on December 14 from Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan “directed” Sgt McCabe to co-operate with the force’s penalty points inquiry. This will be used to justify Mr Shatter’s claim last year that Sgt McCabe refused to co-operate with the inquiry.

Fine Gael is keen to end the controversies hanging over the force and Mr Shatter, now entering a third week. Labour are not ruling out the establishment of an inquiry.

A judge-led review was ordered into the issue of the alleged bugging of the Garda ombudsman.