Penalty points audit due in 3 weeks
The Public Accounts Committee is expected to be given details of each allegation Sgt Maurice McCabe has made and the results of the audit’s examination. It is thought the second set of penalty point allegations span a period from January 2013 up to last month. This includes claims related to periods since June 16, when a strict cancellation system was installed.
Sgt McCabe previously made allegations on penalty points spanning 2011 and 2012, which resulted in two critical reports about the system, by the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Garda Inspectorate.
His individual allegations are being investigated by the Garda ombudsman, which is also examining the second set of allegations. Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald referred the new cases to GSOC on foot of a request from interim commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan.
The scale of the new allegation is still not yet known. Sgt McCabe was today due in Dublin to continue his work with the Professional Standards Unit, which is conducting the audit.
The new allegations relate to gardaí having their points terminated, particularly repeat terminations and cases where so-called ridiculous excuses were used.
The full report of the audit, including Sgt McCabe’s allegations, is expected to be forwarded to both the PAC and the Garda Inspectorate in three week’s time.
It is understood Sgt McCabe has also raised concerns with both the C&AG and the Garda ombudsman.
Many of the claims cover the period after the points system was tightened up. The first changes were introduced last March, after the inspectorate’s report, with further restrictions brought in last June.
Ms O’Sullivan said from June 16, only a three-person central processing office could cancel penalty points, following a request from the line managers of the applying garda and following an examination of supporting documentation.
In its report, the inspectorate said requests for cancellations could only be granted if “accompanied by factual third party evidence supporting the reason for cancellation”.
It also said the office must examine if the person has got previous terminations.
The new cases include allegations that there was no supporting documentation.
Meanwhile, a number of gardaí criticised in the Guerin report, which investigated separate claims by Sgt McCabe of misconduct at Bailieborough Garda Station, have spoken of their unhappiness with the report and the whistleblower.
The members told the Garda Review they had not been allowed to respond to the report. The Garda Representative Association said they were “unfairly tarnished” in the report.
Sources close to Sgt McCabe said Sean Guerin had access to all the investigation files, and not just his claims.
