Government agrees terms for Guerin report investigation

The Government has agreed the terms of reference for a commission of investigation into the findings of the damning Guerin report on Garda malpractice allegations.

The inquiry will cost €1m and take 12 months. Its terms will be published later this week.

Former justice minister Alan Shatter, who resigned in the wake of the critical report, will have his court case to overturn it heard next April. This will be just after the commission is expected to begin its work.

A Government spokesman last night reiterated its promise that the commission of investigation would take on board barrister Sean Guerin’s recommendations.

The Guerin report looked into claims by Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe that serious crimes were not investigated properly.

Mr Guerin looked into the actions taken by gardaí, the Department of Justice, and Mr Shatter on the allegations by Sgt McCabe of Garda misconduct. It also concluded that the effectiveness of the Garda PULSE system should be reviewed.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny had said in May that the terms for a full investigation would be agreed in just a few weeks.

They will be published on Friday and put before the Houses of the Oireachtas for agreement early in the New Year, Government sources said last night.

The commission will also take on board recommendations made by the Garda Inspectorate on the Guerin report. The inspectorate concluded previously that Sgt McCabe’s claims were “credible” when it came to information he provided about the penalty points system.

Mr Shatter’s application for a judicial review of the Guerin report will be heard in the High Court on April 21, it was announced in court yesterday.

Separately, the Cabinet discussed the Mother and Baby home inquiry, the terms for which will be agreed in early January. Over 160 submissions have been sent to the Minister.