Shatter comments disputed by ex-watchdog

A former Garda Ombudsman commissioner has taken issue with comments made by Justice Minister Alan Shatter in which he claimed the watchdog had not felt it “necessary” to take action in relation to complaints made by whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Conor Brady said it wasn’t true to say they didn’t take action because it wasn’t necessary, rather it was because key witnesses weren’t prepared to make formal statements to confirm details of the complaints.

He was referring to 11 complaints of alleged garda misconduct and abuse made by Sgt McCabe, which the Ombudsman began investigating in 2010, following an internal Garda probe. That inquiry resulted in 10 volumes of files being submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who directed no charges be taken.