Whistleblowers: Secret heroes of transparency

Michael Clifford says we were late to the party when it came to protecting workers who reveal information. But now the law is there it is stronger than in many countries

THERE was a time in the recent past when it was open season on whistleblowers. This was known only too well by the woman who relentlessly attempted to highlight the ‘Grace’ foster abuse scandal in the South East.

Speaking under the privilege of the Dáil on November 2, Fine Gael’s John Deasy said he had information that there were attempts to sack the whistleblower in that case in 2011. Deasy said that evidence against her was “fabricated” and the attempt died in the end.