Enda Kenny: Alan Shatter 'did his work well'

Enda Kenny has refused to say if he will correct the Dáil record concerning remarks he made about Alan Shatter and instead said the O’Higgins inquiry confirms the former justice minister “did his work well”.

The Taoiseach was asked about the report’s criticism of failures in the force and said that gardai were getting more resources. The O’Higgins report found serious flaws and failures in criminal investigations in the Cavan and Monaghan areas between 2007 and 2008.

Mr Shatter now insists that an earlier scoping report for the inquiry by Sean Guerin, which was critical of him and resulted in his resignation, has now been found to be “flawed”. He wants the Guerin report pulled from circulation but also wants Mr Kenny to adjust the Dáil record and withdraw his expression of support for those findings then at the time.

Mr Shatter maintains that he has been “vindicated” and that the O’Higgins inquiry proves he did nothing wrong as justice minister.

Alan Shatter and Enda Kenny

Speaking in Dublin last night, Mr Kenny said he had “just got” the report and had “not read it” yet. “But I am glad that the report confirms that the former minister did his work well and it makes that very clear.”

He referred to a High Court appeal being taken by Mr Shatter concerning the Guerin report. “Obviously there’s a case before the court of appeal at the moment which doesn’t allow me to comment on the Guerin report until that court of appeal makes its judgement.”

He reiterated that Mr Shatter had decided to resign himself, despite the former minister previously declaring he was “encouraged” to by Mr Kenny. “He set out the reasons for his resignation in a very clear and comprehensive letter both to me and to others, which was made public.”

Asked about the findings of garda failure in the O’Higgins report as well as the “painful memories” for some families, including relatives of Sylvia Roche Kelly who was murdered in 2007 by a man out on bail, Mr Kenny responded: “Clearly that was an absolute tragedy, a very traumatic period in all their lives. Following that murder, the minister for justice has outlined the changes and the increase in capacity to deal with resources to provide proper facilities for gardai to do their job and we hope that we will be able to continue on that. So while these things were very traumatic obviously the [Maurice] McCabe dossier resulted in the O’Higgins report being published today.”