Detective claims Garda chief is biased against him

A DETECTIVE garda sergeant has claimed that a chief superintendent was personally biased against him in the handling of his application for higher rank.

Det Sgt Fergus Treanor, who is officially stationed in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, has brought a High Court challenge claiming bias over how his application for promotion to Garda inspector was dealt with.

He is seeking an order quashing a promotional assessment form on him because, he says, the assessment process had been improperly conducted and is heavily tainted with bias.

The action is against the Garda commissioner, who denies the claims.

In his action before Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill yesterday, Det Sgt Treanor claims chief superintendent Rooney, who is in charge of the Cavan Monaghan Division, was responsible for having “highly disparaging comments” put on his previous assessment file, which were, he said, untrue and highly damaging.

In November 2007, similar proceedings by Det Sgt Treanor were withdrawn on the basis of an undertaking that a promotional vacancy would be left unfilled.

However, in January this year, Sgt Treanor obtained leave to seek a judicial review of how his application is now being dealt with because he claims Chief Supt Rooney is still involved in the sergeant’s application.

John O’Donnell, counsel for the Garda commissioner, said the process of assessment “is not amenable to judicial review”.

He said that assessments written by a district officer and a divisional officer must be included as part of the application for promotion to the rank of inspector.

While Chief Supt Rooney is “happy to stand over” the comments, he is not on the board that will determine Sgt Treanor’s application, and does not take part in any interviews.