Senior garda bid to destroy whistleblower requires dramatic response, says Fianna Fáil
The allegations, revealed in th, about the treatment of garda whistleblowers, requires a “dramatic response” from Government. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the allegations go “above and beyond an investigation into wrongdoing” and must be dealt with in that light.
It was revealed that two protected disclosures by senior gardaí referenced a campaign that included spreading false, scandalous and damaging allegations against the whistleblower.
Last night, Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald confirmed that the protected disclosures had been received by her in her department, but said she could not comment any further on the matter.
In the Dáil, Mr Martin said: “I do not know if the Taoiseach has read the report in today’s in relation to whistleblowers being strategically undermined and under attack, both their personal and professional reputations, at the instigation of senior Garda management.”
He added that the disclosures revealed that senior gardaí were involved in a “character assassination attack” which included dissemination of texts to gardaí in a bid to tarnish the reputation of whistleblowers and the opening of an intelligence file on the whistleblowers.
“It demands a fairly dramatic response from the Government. It cannot just be allowed drift into a process,” Mr Martin added.
The Fianna Fáil leader, who has led on the issue of Garda malpractice, said the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) needs greater powers and legislative change and asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny if this would be granted.
“It is at a very high level of wrongdoing, if I can put it that way to the Taoiseach, without pre-empting any inquiry,” said Mr Martin. “It seems to be something that is of the most gravest import, if it is true. Disclosures have been made and I believe it is extremely serious. I would ask if legislation in this area will be brought forward?”
Mr Kenny said he had not seen the correspondence but admitted “it may well be there are matters here beyond what would be a normal GSOC analysis or investigation”.
He said Ms Fitzgerald is considering the report and will “decide what the best thing to do is following examination of the information”.
Mr Kenny said he was aware of the report in this paper but said “the House would not expect me to go into detail about who has made these disclosures or the nature of the allegations contained in them at this particular time”.
In a statement to the , a spokesman for the Tánaiste said: “The Tánaiste has recently received protected disclosures from members of An Garda Síochána under the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014.
“Any such disclosures will of course be fully considered to determine what further action may be appropriate. The maintenance of confidentiality in relation to protected disclosures is fundamental and, in line with the statutory obligations under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, it is not possible to make any further comment.”
It is believed the disclosures claim that the purpose of the campaign was to discredit the whistleblower to the extent of destroying his character. One of the two officers making the disclosure is admitting his role in the campaign to discredit the whistleblower, but claims he was following orders.
The seniority of the officers making the claims and the fact that one of them is admitting his own culpability will give rise to fresh concerns as to how those who come forward are dealt with.
The disclosures detail a number of different strands to the campaign, conducted over a number of years.
The disclosures came about after a meeting between the two officers concerned in the last month.
The officer who admits his role in the campaign against the whistleblower told the second officer about it and expressed remorse for what he had been involved in.
A spokesman for Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said: “We will not be commenting on any particular protected disclosure reports. Any protective disclosures made within An Garda Síochána are welcomed, and dealt with according to agreed protocols and the individual making the disclosure is protected within an An Garda Síochána. I have on numerous occasions expressed my support for any employees who have issues and concerns. As commissioner I have actively asked employees to bring forward issues and concerns. We learn by listening.”
Meanwhile, last night’s Prime Time revealed a further disclosure under whistleblower legislation has been made to the justice minister.
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