The report from the Garda Inspectorate on the penalty point issue spelled out one thing very clearly - Martin Callinan as Garda Commssioner presided over a dysfunctional system, riddled with consistent and widespread breaches of the rules.
The Government knew just how serious this verdict was - immediately setting up a working group to deal with it - and that group held its first meeting within 24 hours.
Up until the publication of the report on Wednesday last, Callinan's position was that the bad eggs in the force weren't the ones cancelling penalty points like they were throwing confetti at a wedding.
No, the Garda Commissioner's stance was that the ones who were the problem were former Garda John Wilson and Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
Just six weeks ago, Callinan told the Public Accounts Committee that he personally found the two whistleblowers "disgusting":
When questioned further by TDs at PAC about his use of the word “disgusting”, Commissioner Callinan stood over his comments.
Roll on Wednesday last, when the Garda Inspectorate delivered its damning indictment of the management of the penalty point system. A statement was released acknowledging that the Gardaí needed to deal with the matter and within that Martin Callinan decided he should address the issue over his controversial remarks.
It seems everybody took him up wrong - he wasn't calling anyone "disgusting" – it was merely the manner in which the information had reached the public domain that he found offensive. But what was crystal clear in Callinan’s statement was that there was no sign of the word "sorry".
On Thursday, Leaders’ Questions in Leinster House went a little unnoticed. Maybe it was because the Taoiseach and Tánaiste had already left the country for St Patrick's Day celebrations or it more likely was because it was a bi-lingual session to mark 'Seachtain na Gaeilge'.
But Sinn Féin's Aengus O'Snodaigh was on hand to spell it out. He called on Commissioner Callinan to apologise, on the Government to ask him to do so, and that if he failed to do so he should be told to resign or be sacked.
Deputy O’Snodaigh competently made his case (as Gaeilge) while responding (as Bearla) on behalf of the Government, Minister Richard Bruton gave a far from ringing endorsement of the Commissioner.
The Garda whistleblowers have this week been vindicated. One of them, John Wilson, who is no longer a member of the Gardaí, openly told Newstalk Breakfast it was time for Callinan to go:
Callinan saw his Commissionership extended. He's got another 15 or 16 months to serve in the role. But in reality if the force is to move on from this episode, he probably should go an awful lot sooner, as soon as a replacement can be found.
There is already talk of who Callinan’s successor could be. Noreen O'Sullivan, an Assistant Commissioner who has risen through the ranks, has been earmarked for the role. But what we have learned about the Gardaí in recent weeks, from GSOC and the Inspectorate’s report, is that when outsiders look in - we get to the bottom of things.
This point was made quite clear on the Friday Forum on The Pat Kenny Show with Eddie Downey President of the IFA, Sadhbh McCarthy, and former Junior Minister when the Greens were in Government, Ciaran Cuffe yesterday:
And so maybe it is time to look beyond the walls of Templemore to ensure the next Commissioner is truly a force to be reckoned with.
