Garda HR boss quits police ethics committee in row over ‘crime’ letter

The civilian head of human resources in An Garda Siochána, John Barrett, who found himself in conflict with the Garda Commissioner, has stepped down as the force’s representative on the Policing Authority’s Ethics committee.

Mr Barrett informed the authority that he was stepping down last Thursday — eight days after he told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that he was appalled that an internal letter in Garda management suggested he may be guilty of a crime for reporting financial irregularities at the Garda Training College.

Garda sources suggest that Mr Barrett felt unable to continue as a representative on the committee following the evidence that was heard at the PAC on May 31.