Two Garda probes follow twin downfalls

THE intrigue and allegations surrounding the resignations of Willie O’Dea and Trevor Sargent are now the subject of two top level Garda probes.

As the aftershocks of the ministerial downfalls continued to crash through the Dáil, the inquiry into Mr Sargent’s unlawful intervention into a criminal prosecution was widened to uncover how letters from the former Green leader to gardaí were leaked to the media.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy also launched an investigation into a complaint of alleged perjury by the former Defence Minister and a related claim that a garda had leaked confidential information to him.

Both inquiries have the potential to become politically explosive as bitter Dáil clashes continued to rage surrounding the resignations.

The commissioner said a final report on both matters would be sent to the Garda Ombudsman – and any relevant matters would be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration.

Though not criminal inquires, the two investigations will have the power to seek to question Mr O’Dea, Mr Sargent, journalists and others under caution if necessary. Justice Minister Dermot Ahern promised to publish both reports and added that when he did he hoped: “Those people who smeared me will withdraw their smears.”

This was a reference to opposition claims he may have been involved in the leak of the Sargent letter as part of a Fianna Fáil plot to avenge the role of the Greens in the resignation of Mr O’Dea last week. Brian Cowen dismissed the claims amid angry Dáil exchanges in which Labour and Fine Gael accused him of presiding over a “broken” Government “riven with mistrust”.

The Taoiseach insisted the Coalition remained the only viable Government as Mr Sargent and the Greens finally cleared Fianna Fáil of being involved in the downfall of the former Food Minister after pointedly refusing to do so in the immediate wake of the resignation. Chief Superintendent Michael Finn of the Cork division has been appointed to carry out both inquiries.

Mr O’Dea refused to comment after the announcement that gardaí would investigate a complaint by Green Party activist Gary Fitzgerald suggesting possible perjury on the part of the former defence minister who has admitted swearing an untrue affidavit to the High Court.

The probe will also look into claims made by Mr O’Dea, in the Dáil, that gardaí gave him the false information about a political rival being linked to a Limerick brothel that he passed onto a journalist.

Fresh questions also arose in the Sargent affair as it emerged he had written to senior gardaí regarding the criminal case of a constituent he became involved in as recently as last week, despite stating the details of the case only “came back” to him immediately prior to his resignation on Tuesday.