Wilson to address SF summer school

Garda whistleblower John Wilson will reiterate the need to reform the force today and outline his experiences raising malpractice against former colleagues during his address at a Sinn Féin summer school.

The former garda last night said claims that the garda ombudsman was previously under some sort of surveillance were “very disturbing”.

The retired Cavan garda also praised senior figures in Sinn Féin and said the party was now “a political force to be reckoned with” in Ireland.

Mr Wilson will today address the party’s fifth summer school in the west Cork Gaeltacht village of Baile Bhuirne.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, he said he was invited last month to attend today’s conference to outline his experience as a whistleblower in the force.

Mr Wilson will reiterate his calls for reform in the force, including the need to recruit a new garda chief from outside the state. He will also stress that the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission is in serious need of reform.

He said last night that he was shocked about new claims that GSOC could have been monitored after rank-and-file members yesterday called for details on the surveillance of the agency.

“If they were under surveillance, they would have contacted the garda commissioner, even if there were rogue elements of the gardaí involved,” he said.

“The relationship had obviously totally broken down.”

He said the reports that GSOC may have been under surveillance and did not seek the help of the garda commissioner were “very disturbing”.

“There is a need to set up an independent garda authority now or by the end of the year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Wilson said a justice campaign group involving TDs and himself was still being inundated with allegations and complaints against the force.

Justice4All met Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald earlier this month and has asked that a special unit or system be set up to take in complaints of malpractice and other allegations against gardaí.

Mr Wilson said that Sinn Féin had been viewed until recently as “the leper” in Irish politics.

This had now changed, he said.

“Those days of being unclean are gone and they are a force to be reckoned with. They are a growing political force,” he added.

Senior party members, including deputy leader Mary Loud McDonald, will speak today and other topics for discussion at the summer school will include women in politics, Ireland’s mother- and-baby homes, and collusion in the Troubles.