Frances Fitzgerald silent on Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan's fate

The Department of Justice has refused to say if Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will ask Garda Commissioner Nóirín O Sullivan to step aside if a State inquiry is opened into claims senior management tried to discredit whistleblowers.

A department spokesperson last night refused to be drawn on what action Ms Fitzgerald will take if a widely expected commission of investigation is opened into the controversy.

Last October, retired High Court judge Iarfhlaith O’Neill was asked to investigate claims from Superintendent David Taylor that he and others had been told by senior garda management to orchestrate a campaign to undermine whistleblower Superintendent Maurice McCabe and others.