Coughlan denies timing of Garda corruption report was staged
The sixth Morris report into allegations of misconduct by Donegal officers had been available for release for nearly a fortnight, but was issued on the last possible day, Wednesday, when Mr Cowen’s move to Taoiseach dominated the political and media agenda.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore branded it an “act of cynicism” and compared the move to the notorious email sent out by a British government spin doctor on September 11, 2001, telling colleagues it was a “good day to bury bad news”.
The latest Morris report into alleged Garda corruption examined the circumstances surrounding the investigation into the death of Raphoe cattle dealer Richie Barron.
It found that several people were mistreated in Garda custody — verbally and in some cases through physical abuse.
The Tánaiste, a Donegal TD married to a Garda officer, said many members of the force felt let down by what had happened in the county, while others had been wrongly “villified”.
Mr Gilmore insisted ministers were trying to hide the findings in the report to limit Government and Garda embarrassment.
“While I accept Wednesday was the final day for its release, there was nothing to prevent the publication of that report earlier than that. The publication at lunchtime on the day the Government was being formed was clearly a well news-managed event,” he told TDs.
Ms Coughlan insisted the Government was committed to openness on the matter and nothing “untoward” was happening in connection with the release of the findings.
“I would know that this has been fundamentally very difficult for many members of the force who have found that, perhaps, they were let down, or that there was a public vilification of them even though they may not have been involved. One has to await the final outcome. My view is that very serious issues arose and serious lessons have been learned,” she told RTÉ.
The Tánaiste insisted there was nothing underhand about the way the report saw the light of day.
“Given the seriousness of this report it is important that people get the opportunity to go through it thoroughly, it was important the commissioner was in a position to prepare his response and given the short timeframe involved the last legal day the minister could publish this report was Wednesday,” she said.
Ms Coughlan claimed the report had not been ready for release, even 24 hours earlier, and promised a full Dáil debate on the issues it outlined when two further reports on the incidents come out in the next few weeks.
“There were many issues that are being addressed by the Garda authorities and the relevant ministers over the last number of years,” she said.
The Tánaiste added she had to be careful what she said as she was married to a member of the force.
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