Tánaiste rejects criticism that Shatter ‘vindictive’ in bid to gag gardaí

Claims that Alan Shatter, the justice minister, has been “vindictive” by attempting to “silence” gardaí have been rejected by the Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.

As four sergeants faced disciplinary action over their walk-out during a garda conference, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald said the Government does not want members of the force “to open their mouths”.

However, the Tánaiste said “the Government is not disciplining anybody” and it was a matter for the Garda Commissioner, not the minister.