Victim: Whistleblower inquiry a whitewash

A high-profile victim of the Garda whistleblower cases, being examined by a Government-appointed barrister, has hit out at the process after learning she will not be interviewed.

Mary Lynch, who was the victim of a serious assault by a man who went on to commit murder, says she believes the inquiry being conducted by senior counsel Sean Guerin is merely a lip service exercise designed to relieve pressure from the Government.

Ms Lynch has not been interviewed as part of the process, and says she has been reliably informed it’s highly unlikely she will be consulted. Her case is one of a dozen criminal cases being examined by Sean Guerin to see whether a full commission of investigation is required.

“When they set up this, I thought I was going to be interviewed,” Ms Lynch said. “How can you look into it properly if you’re not going to interview the victims? I haven’t heard a word from them, and it looks like I’m not going to be interviewed. The whole thing could be a whitewash if they’re not going to talk to the victims.”

In April 2007, Mary Lynch was viciously assaulted in Virginia, Co Cavan, by Jerry McGrath, who subsequently was allowed out on bail for that offence and eight months later for the attempted abduction of a child, before murdering Silvia Roche Kelly in Limerick in December 2007. The case, first highlighted in the Irish Examiner, involved a failure of gardaí to inform the court that McGrath was already on bail.

Mary Lynch’s case is one of at least a dozen criminal cases highlighted by Sergeant Maurice McCabe, which he claims were examples of malpractice and cover-ups within the force. All of the cases have been examined internally by the Garda. However, the Government agreed to set up the Guerin inquiry after Taoiseach Enda Kenny was furnished with details of the cases by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on February 19, which he described as “shocking”.

Mr Kenny said the allegations were “very grave”. Mr Martin also alleged the claims were known to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter for the last two years, but the minister refuted suggestions that he did not act on the information he had to hand since 2012.

As a result, the Government set up the Guerin inquiry, publishing terms of reference on February 27. One of the terms instructs the senior counsel “to interview Sgt Maurice McCabe and any other such person as may be considered necessary and capable of providing relevant and material assistance to this Review”.

The Irish Examiner understands the review has been in contact with Sergeant McCabe, but none of the victims of in the cases have been contacted. Mr Guerin was requested to report his findings by Easter, and there is no indication yet that he will not meet that deadline.