Fennelly Report: Joan Burton: Kenny did nothing wrong

Labour leader Joan Burton has backed Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s version of the Fennelly commission’s verdict over what caused ex-garda commissioner Martin Callinan to retire, despite opposition parties calling on the Fine Gael leader to resign.

In a statement, the Tánaiste said the findings of the detailed 300-page report into the political and justice controversy have cleared Mr Kenny of any wrongdoing and that he did nothing wrong.

Backing her Coalition colleague’s insistence that the investigation has given an “unambiguous” clean slate over the issue, Ms Burton said: “The report makes clear the ultimate decision to retire lay with the then garda commissioner, and that there was no directive issued by the Taoiseach to the commissioner,” she said.