Morris Tribunal garda may take legal action over sacking

SACKED Garda Superintendent Kevin Lennon has hinted he may take legal action following his dismissal from the force on foot of the damning Morris Tribunal report.

The former Donegal-based officer said he was taking legal advice after the Government confirmed yesterday that the Cabinet had taken the decision on Tuesday to permanently remove him from duty.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the decision was taken only after the superintendent had been allowed time to respond in writing twice to issues raised with him by the Government following Justice Morris’s report.

“The Government decided at that stage that it did not have confidence in him to act as a superintendent in the Garda Siochána and, in those circumstances, indicated that it was dismissing him,” Mr McDowell said.

Mr Lennon had been under suspension for the past two years and his sacking makes him the first garda to be forcibly removed from the force as a result of the Morris Tribunal’s corruption probe.

His former colleague, Noel McMahon, who had served with him as a detective sergeant, resigned from the force in July.

It is understood that Mr Lennon’s dismissal will seriously affect his pension entitlements but he declined to speculate on the implications of the decision. “I have no comment to make at the moment. I will be seeking legal advice,” he said.

Mr Justice Morris’s report on the first phase of the inquiry found Mr Lennon had deliberately staged and claimed credit for fake explosives finds in Donegal in order to advance his career.

Mr Justice Morris said he had “lied to the tribunal on almost every issue on which he gave evidence”.