The Charleton Inquiry - Any delay in report will add to crisis

THE imperative of staunching the flow of An Garda Síochána’s haemorrhaging credibility has become a career-defining challenge for even the most secure, assured and well-supported individual. 

Or at least it did. Allegations, made under Dáil protection by Labour leader Brendan Howlin, that Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan played a hands-on role in black-ops to dishonestly discredit Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe, have cast that net far, far wider.

Those who appointed Ms O’Sullivan and supported her through earlier difficult moments will surely be caught up in the whirlwind despite yesterday afternoon’s entirely appropriate reminder from Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald that “an allegation is not a conviction”.