Connolly refused to deny whistleblower transcript

The former garda confidential recipient, Oliver Connolly, declined a request by the Department of Justice to repudiate an alleged transcript of a conversation he had with a garda whistleblower.

He said to have done so would have been against the law, and a “violation” of the confidential nature of his office which was set up as a point of contact for members of the force to raise concern in private.

Mr Connolly issued a statement yesterday — two weeks after he was sacked over what Justice Minister Alan Shatter said was his “failure to unequivocally repudiate the content of the alleged conversation”.