27 March 2014
Shatter: Another damaging revelation
"If it's true that Martin Callinan was dissuaded from withdrawing those comments officials in the Department of Justice, then that is absolutely shocking" - Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD
MEDIA reports that the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan wanted to withdraw his remark where he described the actions of the two Garda whistleblowers as "disgusting" but was advised against it by Department of Justice officials are "absolutely shocking" and need to be clarified by Justice Minister Alan Shatter, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has told An Phoblacht.
RTÉ is reporting that former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan delayed withdrawing his use of the word "disgusting" to describe the behaviour of garda whistleblowers John Wilson and Maurice McCabe following advice from Department of Justice officials. The whistleblowers's actions exposed widespread malpractice within the police service.
Speaking to An Phoblacht at Leinster House, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said:
"If it's true that Martin Callinan was dissuaded from withdrawing those comments by officials in the Department of Justice then that is absolutely shocking."
The Donegal TD says the Justice Minister Alan Shatter and his Department must urgently clarify these allegations.
He also said reports that the Taoiseach sent the secretary general of the Department of Justice to the home of the Garda Commissioner on Monday night to to "convey the gravity of the situation" to him following reports of the widespread recording of phone calls at Garda stations shows that the Government had decided to sack the Commissioner to protect the Minister.