2014 started with a bang with two of the worst storms to ever hit the country battering the North, West and South in January and February. There was also a storm on the horizon for the Government, however, in what came to be known as the GardaGate controversy.
Whistleblowers John Wilson and Sergeant Maurice McCabe brought forward allegations of the wrongful cancellation of penalty points. The then Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan’s appearance before the Public Accounts Committee to answer the claims gave rise to a quote that would resonate for months to come:
“There isn’t a whisper anywhere else from any other member of An Garda Síochána about this corruption, this malpractice and all of those things that are leveled against their fellow officers. Frankly, I think it’s quite disgusting. On a personal level I think it’s quite disgusting.”
But penalty points were only one side of the story - soon followed more claims which heaped pressure on Mr Callinan and Justice Minister Alan Shatter. In February, reports emerged that the Garda Ombudsman offices in Dublin had been bugged.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin brought forward a dossier with more claims of garda misconduct relating to “a failure of basic functions in terms of a range of very serious cases - involving abduction, assault and murder.” The allegations lumped huge pressure on both Mr Callinan and Alan Shatter to resign – with Independent TDs becoming some of the strongest critics. Deputy Mick Wallace launched a scathing attack on the then Justice Minister in the Dáil:
“Minister, you look up here at us and you say, ‘how dare those people with their long hair and raggy jeans have the audacity to challenge you! Well, let me tell you something, the people of Wexford that elected me, did not elect me to come in here and approve of your behaviour. They put me in here to challenge it. It’s time for you to go Minister, and bring the Commissioner with you.”
The whistleblowers found themselves an unlikely ally in the then Transport Minister Leo Varadkar, who told the Dáil:
“They released the information in an effort to expose bad practice and to protect the public. And they did so through Oireachtas members - which is expressly provided for in the Garda Act of 2005. And so speaking on my own behalf and the thousands of families who have had to endure the pain and loss from the death of a loved one on the road, I want to thank Sgt McCabe and Mr Wilson for their service.”
The Garda Inspectorate report into penalty points found inconsistent and widespread breaches of police authority, prompting further calls for the commissioner to go. Mr Callinan attempted to justify his previous “disgusting” comment to the PAC but calls continued for him to withdraw his remarks.
Then on March 25th came the news of his departure, claiming the controversies were distracting from the force’s work. As Mr Callinan’s deputy Noirin O’Sullivan took over as interim Commissioner, it seemed that Alan Shatter had managed to weather the storm - until Sean Guerin’s report into the allegations of garda misconduct was published in April.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced to the Dáil on May 7th that it was with regret he would accept the resignation of Justice Minister Alan Shatter from the Government.
