DÁIL REPORT: Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has apologised to the Garda whistleblowers and said he had misled the Dáil on the issue.
Mr Shatter said this afternoon that he wished to correct the Dáil record that whistleblowers Sgt Maurice McCabe and former garda John Wilson, "did not co-operate with the Garda investigation that took place''. He acknowledged, he added, that this statement was incorrect.
“It was never my intention to mislead the House and I believe it is appropriate that I apologise to both and withdraw the statement made,’’ he added
“ It was never my intention to cause any upset and, if any upset was caused, I hope that my correcting of the record of the Dail today will put this matter to rest.’’
Mr Shatter said he acknowledged, as he had done may times previously, that the reports published and the findings and recommendations made with regard to the fixed notice charge system and penalty points were in response to the allegations made by Sgt McCabe and supported by former garda Wilson.
The Minister made his remarks when opening a Dail debate on the Garda inspectorate report on the fixed charge processing system.
He recalled that last October he had made a statement that the whistleblowers did not co-operate with the Garda investigations that took place in respect of their allegations.
“I appreciate that this statement has been the source of some upset and distress to the whistleblowers,’’ he added. “I have looked again at the information provided and considered the matter in detail.’’
Mr Shatter said he believed that more should have been done during the course of the O’Mahoney investigation to obtain information from and ascertain the views and experience of the whistleblowers. “Further and better efforts could and should have been made to secure productive engagement with them in the investigation of their claims,’’ he added.
