Legal view: ‘Kenny’s actions suggest commissioner was pushed’
Professor Dermot Walsh said this was “subversive” of the legislation governing the dismissal of senior police officers. He said there was a “crucial, legal difference” between Mr Callinan being told by the secretary general of the Department of Justice Brian Purcell that the Cabinet — rather than just the Taoiseach — had concerns over the tapes and possible difficulties for him.
The professor of law at Kent University said only the Cabinet can dismiss a commissioner. It emerged yesterday that the Cabinet didn’t even know of the recordings until Tuesday.
