Enda Kenny praises Garda whistleblowers
Mr Kenny also defended Justice Minister Alan Shatter and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan yesterday despite claims that both had “rubbished” initial claims by the whistleblowers.
His comments came after a damning Garda Inspectorate report this week found “widespread breaches” of policy by gardaí deleting penalty points. It also found no evidence of supervision of cancellations either at Garda headquarters or any other level and said the fines system was fraught with waste.
Speaking in Washington during his St Patrick’s Day trip to the United States, Mr Kenny acknowledged the role of Sgt Maurice McCabe and now-retired garda John Wilson.
“These matters would not have been addressed in the way they are, but for the fact that they were brought to light by the whistleblowers.”
Asked if they deserved an apology, he said Justice Minister Alan Shatter had already said they were “correct” in raising the issues. “He had disagreements with the whistleblowers on a number of issues. He has addressed this at some length in the committee, in the Dáil and will do so again when the Dáil resumes on the Thursday after St Patrick’s recess.”
Asked a second time if they should get an apology, the Taoiseach repeated that Mr Shatter had already dealt with that and their concerns were being addressed through a number of processes.
Asked if the Garda Commissioner was “unwise” to call the actions of the whistleblowers “disgusting” when he appeared before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in January, the Taoiseach said this comment had been clarified. Mr Kenny said Mr Callinan’s word related to “the release in the irregular fashion — put it that way — of the information about this to the public media”.
He said he had full confidence in Mr Callinan.
“Clearly the findings of the Garda inspectorate’s report point out where dysfunctionality and inefficiency in the system has been. That is now being addressed and that is the consequence of the eight-month report by the inspectorate.”
But Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary accused Mr Shatter of using the Dáil to try and “sully” the character of Sgt McCabe. “Surely Minister Shatter owes an apology to Sgt McCabe for trying to destroy his reputation using this house,” he said.
Independent TD Mick Wallace also said there had been continuous attempts to play down the points saga.
“How can the commissioner and the minister still stand over all they’ve said in the last 18 months, because, from the word go, they rubbished anyone. The whistleblowers first, TDs second.”
Garda Inspectorate chief inspector Robert Olson said his report had not found corruption but mismanagement in the points system.
But Sinn Féin justice spokesman Pádraig Mac Lochlainn disagreed while also saying Garda whistleblowers were vindicated.
“It’s not corruption of backhanders, huge brown envelopes, but in terms of ethics and morals it was corrupt behaviour by some senior gardaí within the force who let down the rest.”
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