Garda college boss sat on external audit

The deputy Garda commissioner in charge of the Garda college when concerns about financial mismanagement were first raised also sat on the external audit committee overseeing financial practices.

It has emerged that deputy commissioner Nacie Rice, who retired in 2013, was the force’s representative on the otherwise all-civilian committee from 2008-12 during which time it was not told of the problems.

The public accounts committee heard last week that he wrote to the then commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, in 2009, when Mr Murphy suggested a full audit of the college, telling him the college was justified in using money it generated as it saw fit.