I deserve his pension benefits, says dead garda’s ex

THE first wife of a deceased garda who has been refused her husband’s pension benefits took her case to garda headquarters in Dublin’s Phoenix Park yesterday.

Kathleen Delaney, 59, was married to Detective Garda James Delaney for 24 years until their divorce in 1998. During the relationship the couple had two children who are grown up.

Mr Delaney married another woman in 1999. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and died, aged 50, in January 2003.

Outside garda headquarters, Ms Delaney said she was campaigning against the Garda Síochána’s decision to grant her former husband’s pension entitlements — including medical cover and life cover — to his second wife.

“I was a garda detective’s wife for nearly 24 years but after his death I received no pension, no gratuity and no medical cover. I am on social welfare income to survive on my own.

“I demand justice from Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy who refuses to meet me after four years of personal hell,” she said.

Ms Delaney, originally from Bandon, Co Cork, but living in Naas, Co Kildare, has demanded that her pension case be re-opened.

“I have endured inexorable suffering and little or no transparency from the Commissioner and the Department of Justice.

“My livelihood has been snatched away through the death of my former husband. The Garda Commissioner ought to grant me my pension rights. I’ve been left high and dry. It’s a betrayal of my legal rights.

“I had worked in banking myself but I put my family and a garda first and now I cannot get justice.”

Ms Delaney said her case had major implications for other wives who find themselves in the same situation.

“The first wife of a garda now appears to have no legal entitlements according to garda headquarters. It’s a disgrace how the widow of a garda is being treated.”

She said her former husband’s pension had been “left at liberty” at their divorce settlement in 1998.

“It was not dealt with. It can be taken up at any time. The gardaí know there are two wives,” said Ms Delaney.

Her friend, Seamus Counihan, said the problem could have been sorted out had the Commissioner met with Ms Delaney.

“She’s met a wall of silence. It’s scandalous and it has an effect for other wives,” he said.

Friends and relatives joined Ms Delaney outside garda headquarters for the protest.