Removal of Callinan an ‘abuse of power’

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been accused of an abuse of power by “engineering” the removal of the former Garda commissioner from his post.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin launched the latest attack on what he considers the Taoiseach’s lack of honesty over the sudden departure of Martin Callinan, ahead of a Dáil motion of no confidence in Mr Kenny.

Mr Martin said that Mr Kenny “essentially engineered” the removal of Mr Callinan by sending a senior Department of Justice official to visit him late at night, hours before he announced his retirement.