TDs tried to destroy my reputation, says garda

AN assistant chief commissioner who headed the internal police inquiry into garda misconduct in Donegal accused two TDs of trying to destroy his reputation, the Morris Tribunal heard yesterday.

Kevin Carty was accused, in anonymous correspondence with Labour TD Brendan Howlin and former Fine Gael deputy Jim Higgins, of encouraging a detective to plant evidence and fit up suspects.

It was claimed he and Assistant Commissioner Tony Hickey, head of the Dublin area for the Garda Síochána, were closely connected with Det John White, the garda at the centre of many allegations under investigation by the Morris Tribunal.

Mr Hickey completely denies the anonymous claims, saying he had minimal contact with Det White over the years.

Mr Carty rejected the allegations as false and malicious and in a statement to garda investigators maintained they had been made to assassinate his character.

“I find it most distasteful that elected public representatives have taken it upon themselves to destroy my reputation in a cowardly manner by hiding behind whatever legal privilege is afforded to them by their position in public life,” the statement said.

Mr Carty said he had some dealings with Det White between 1994 and 1996 while head of the central detective unit and later the National Drugs Unit.

But, he said, information passed on via an informant had produced no arrests or drug seizures.

Senator Jim Higgins and Deputy Brendan Howlin last night rejected the allegation that they had abused Dáil privilege.

Mr Higgins said they had passed information they had separately received to the then-Justice Minister John O’Donoghue but had never made it public.

Both politicians said the information came from trusted garda sources. “It is quite astounding that people who pressed hard for this investigation and were searching for the truth should, by an officer of the law, be called cowards,” said Mr Howlin.