Report a vindication of McCabe complaints

It is hard to conceive of a more damning indictment of former justice minister Alan Shatter, the dysfunctional Department of Justice, or of the Garda Siochána, than barrister Seán Guerin’s scathing report on their cavalier handling of, and failure to properly investigate, allegations of wrongdoing brought to light by whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Above all, the report lends credence to public fears of an unhealthy working relationship between politics and policing, between the ex-minister and former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan, who recently retired, or more likely was sacked by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, whose own political role in the McCabe affair leaves much to be desired.

The end result of this squalid scenario saw Mr Shatter with no choice but to fall on his sword. He has only himself to blame for snuffing out a political career that delivered much legal reform and promised more, but for his lack of judgement.