Silence by Garda Commissioner 'completely unacceptable', says Mary Lou McDonald

THE SILENCE from the Garda Commissioner two full days after Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said she expected a further statement from the police chief on the Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe controversy is “completely unacceptable”, Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.

“Commissioner O’Sullivan must make a statement on this matter at the earliest opportunity,” the Dublin TD said. “There is nothing legally preventing her from commenting despite claims to the contrary.”

Spaeking at the Dáil, Mary Lou added:

“Minister Fitzgerald’s response has been to say as little as possible including refusing point-blank to answer direct questions over the course of two days in the Dáil this week. This is a far cry from the new politics that we are hearing so much about from the new government.

“Statements have now been scheduled in the Dáil for next week on this issue but we are still in the dark in relation to Commissioner O’Sullivan’s instructions to her legal team and whether or not two gardaí claimed that Sergeant McCabe admitted to them that he was acting out of malice.”