Public will have to wait until next year for answers on Garda chief’s resignation

The public will have to wait until next year to find out about the circumstances leading to the resignation of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, and the role of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who dispatched a senior official to his home the night before he stepped down.

Former Supreme Court Judge Nial Fennelly has asked for an extension of the deadline to complete his inquiry into this and the wider issue of recording of phone calls at Garda stations. He was due to report by the end of this year.

He has written to the Taoiseach suggesting that he publish an interim report, which would outline a timeframe for the conclusion of his overall work and contain details of the module relating to the resignation of Mr Callinan.