Strange tale of Shatter and whistleblower

I’LL tell you something, Maurice — and this is just personal advice to you — if Shatter thinks you’re screwing him, you’re finished.” So went a line read into the record of the Dáil last Wednesday by Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin.

The line was taken from what Martin said was the transcript of a conversation between garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe, and a Mr Oliver Connolly, who was appointed to receive information from garda whistleblowers. Connolly is the holder of the office known as the ‘confidential recipient’.

This office was set up in the wake of the Morris Tribunal into garda corruption in Donegal. It was designed to be a route through which officers who had concerns about malpractice or corruption in the force could make their complaints, secure in the knowledge that their identity would be protected. Connolly was appointed by Shatter in 2011. In a previous election campaign, Connolly contributed €1,000 to Shatter’s campaign fund.