Taoiseach enters the eye of the storm

“Another investigation of paper behind closed doors will be wholly inadequate in addressing the real concerns about policing, which is a fundamental branch of the administration of the State.”

This might sound like the probing words of an opposition TD in the Dáil yesterday as the Government announced another review relating to gardaí. But they’re not.

These were the words of TD Brendan Howlin when he was pressing for a tribunal of inquiry into allegations of Garda misconduct in Donegal in 2001. The then Fianna Fáil-led government had just announced a barrister-led review of claims about gardaí, much to the disgust of then opposition TDs such as Mr Howlin and Alan Shatter. It lasted six weeks before a full tribunal was finally agreed.

Fast forward to this week and it is those very same individuals in Government who yesterday agreed to a barrister-led review into claims around Garda malpractice rather than a full independent inquiry. Enda Kenny has calmly walked into the eye of the storm surrounding these claims of alleged Garda malpractice and has put his reputation on the line to protect his justice minister, Alan Shatter. The Taoiseach moved centre stage into the Garda whistleblower controversy yesterday and, while leaving the door open for a full-blown inquiry, he gave some breathing space to Mr Shatter.

Mr Kenny told the Dáil that the review by Seán Guerin of Sgt McCabe’s claims was being done “in the interests of truth and credibility”.

Ahead of the outcome of any review or inquiry, the Taoiseach ostensibly gave his backing to his Cabinet colleague yesterday. He told the Dáil that Mr Shatter had received correspondence from whistleblower Sgt McCabe on January 23 last year and responded the next day. He said that Mr Shatter “acted immediately” when he received this information.

Fundamental to this review is the suspicion that there may have been a cover up over Garda action or inaction involving serious cases.

In all, 12 allegations have been made in respect of a superintendent, the Taoiseach outlined.

But Mr Kenny told yesterday of how Mr Shatter’s department was told by gardaí in January last year that the DPP had concluded that 11 of the 12 claims were “groundless”. He added: “I have a different version here from Sgt McCabe. We are being asked to ascertain the truth of the matter.”

Mr Kenny has now taken hold of this matter and revealed it was he who had ordered the barrister-led review after examining the McCabe dossier. His department is also involved in setting up the terms and conditions, along with the Attorney General and Mr Shatter.

Furthermore, the review will come back to his desk. It is without doubt that Mr Shatter is being removed from the controversy. Mr Kenny also highlighted how his minister had for years been unhappy with the Garda confidential recipient process, the very system that Sgt McCabe was unable to get answers through.

It is all very well to say that now after Mr Shatter fired Garda confidante Oliver Connolly last week over an inappropriate conversation he had with Sgt McCabe in which the whistleblower was told “if Shatter thinks you’re screwing him, you’re finished”.

The Taoiseach might be open to the recommendations the Guerin review will throw up about gardaí, but he seems to have made up his mind about Alan Shatter.

It remains to be seen whether or not this review is more than “an investigation of paper”, as Brendan Howlin once said before, and whether it will address the current serious concerns about policing.