Politicians responsible for Callinan’s removal, GRA chief claims

The head of the biggest Garda representative association has claimed politicians were responsible for the removal of Martin Callinan as Garda Commissioner.

Garda Representative Association (GRA) general secretary PJ Stone said that Callinan was given no option but to fall on his sword after a senior civil servant was sent to talk to him about his future.

“It has been obvious for some time and I think the removal of Mr Callinan as commissioner clearly illustrates to me at least that the Garda Síochána is subject to political whim,” Mr Stone said. “I am saying Martin Callinan was removed from office and that is obvious to everybody. The gentleman was given no option or no choice in my view. I think it is a disgraceful way to treat the head of a police force. If you dispatch after a political meeting a head of a department, one can only conclude that there had to be political interference.