Garda crisis: Nóirín O’Sullivan ‘unaware’ of bid to target whistleblower

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan told an Oireachtas committee that she was “not aware” of any campaign to target a whistleblower.

But Independent TD Clare Daly claimed she had documentation purporting to show 14 letters to the commissioner from the solicitor of a whistleblower detailing allegations of bullying and harassment.

In a testing three-hour session before the Oireachtas justice committee, Ms O’Sullivan, accompanied by 12 members of senior Garda management, stated that:

• She was “absolutely not aware” of any whistleblower being put under surveillance there were no intelligence files on whistleblowers;
• That any electronic devices, including mobile phones, sought by a judicial review into the latest whistleblower allegations would be handed over;
• That Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill will be given “full access” to any part of An Garda Síochána that he desired;
• She would not step aside pending the outcome of the inquiry.

Questioned by Sinn Féin justice spokesman Jonathan O’Brien as to whether she was aware of efforts to target whistleblowers, she said: “I am not aware of any campaign to deliberately target any individual.” She said this was apart from criminals, such as those involved in organised crime and burglaries.

In an earlier, and more demanding, question-and-answer session with deputy Daly, the commissioner said she was “not privy to, nor did I approve, nor would I condone” any action against individuals, including whistleblowers.

Ms O’Sullivan repeated this throughout the session, a statement she initially released after the latest whistleblower allegations emerged — regarding attempts to damage the reputation of Sgt Maurice McCabe.

Ms Daly said a solicitor for a whistleblower —understood to be Keith Harrison — had written to the commissioner directly 14 times over the past two years, in which he outlined instances of surveillance, intimidation, and bullying.

“I’m looking for a yes or no,” Ms Daly said to the commissioner. “Are you aware? My evidence is that you were aware.”

The commissioner replied: “I’m not privy to, nor did I approve, nor would I condone any campaign or harassment or any campaign to malign an employee.”

Pressed by Ms Daly was she saying she was not aware, Ms O’Sullivan said: “That isn’t what I am saying. What I’m saying is that personally I am not privy to, nor would I approve, nor would I condone such a campaign against any individual.”

The commissioner stressed all complaints will be fully investigated but that there was a procedure to ensure due process. She said she could not comment on individual cases and was precluded under the law from identifying a protected disclosure.

She also said an expert was reviewing their protected disclosure system, as was the Policing Authority.

Ms Daly said in all five whistleblower cases she knew of they were out on protracted sick leave because of work-related stress.

Independent TD Mick Wallace put to the commissioner that the culture of the force had “deteriorated” under her watch and that she had promoted her husband and bridesmaid.

Ms O’Sullivan pointed out that she did not have a bridesmaid and that it was “quite inappropriate” that a garda, such as her husband, be defined by his relationship to her.

She refused to answer questions from Mr Wallace as to why she instructed her legal counsel at the O’Higgins inquiry to challenge the motivation and credibility of Sgt McCabe.

She said her interactions with her lawyers attached “lawyer-client privilege” which she, like every other citizen, was entitled to exercise.