Minister Shatter and Commissioner Callinan should both resign in disgrace

Muahahaha

Below, courtesy of Broadsheet.ie, is the full conversation between Garda Whistleblower Maurice McCabe and the confidential recipient Oliver Connollly.

It gives a huge insight into why Shatter is so close to Martin Callinan and why he is trying to make this scandal go quietly away.

IMO this is explosive stuff because it shows the extent of collusion between the Minister and the Commisioner, it talks about rapes not investigated, Gardai not bothering to investigate certainl crimes at all. It paints a very corrupt picture of the Gardai, specifically so at management level where at one stage it appears that the whistleblower got physically assaulted by a senior member of management.

Reading this puts Shatter and Callinan in a very bad light IMO and both of them should now consider their positions.
http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/02/18/garda-confidential-2/

[From top: Alan Shatter and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan; Garda Whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe and Garda confidential recipient Oliver Connolly]

Several TDs have read into the record certain sections of a transcript of a conversation between Garda Confidential Recipient, Oliver Connolly and Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

We have been provided with a full transcript of that conversation [below].

The confidential recipient’s role is to receive information from whistleblowers in the force and present it to the Justice Minister.

Oliver Connolly was appointed as a confidential Garda liaison by Justice Minister Alan Shatter in 2011. Mr Connolly had donated €1,000 to Mr Shatter’s campaign for the 2011 General Election and Mr Shatter was trained as a mediator by Friary Law, the company owned by Mr Connolly.

Sgt McCabe had given Mr Connolly a report containing a number of allegations of Garda wrongdoing.

Their meting took place in a cafe on Thursday, February 9, 2012.

At the meeting Sgt McCabe was told that the Justice Minister had referred his complaints to Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and that no further action would be taken. We have redacted certain names.

Maurice McCabe: “Sure it’s a joke really Oliver, when you see it. Like the minister should go to someone independent to look at it. Like what do I do with all the falsification of records and now even the Minister is now saying, now saying that everything was OK.”

Oliver Connolly: “What he’s saying basically is there is no actual evidence against the Commissioner.”

McCabe : “He is believing the Commissioner and not me. So, it’s a joke, isn’t it really Oliver?”

Connolly: “Look…”

McCabe: “Like almost all the incidents involved were upheld in other words I was right.”

Connolly: “Yes but it’s your allegation of malpractice and corruption against the…”

McCabe: “No but do you see what he says in the letter it’s he says it was an investigation by [REDACTED] and there is no evidence.”

Connolly: “Well I have to tell you there is nothing in the regulations preventing you, you can make as many confidential reports as you wish and you can actually point out, the only way I can go to the actual minister is if you actually directly implicate the Commissioner.”

McCabe: “But sure I did?”

Connolly: “Only in so far and he made a flawed appointment.”

McCabe: “No I said that he should have been aware.”

Connolly: “You probably exhausted, you probably exhausted the limits of the office.”

McCabe: “I have yeah. So in other words you can go nowhere else except to court.”

Connolly: “Probably. I mean the minister has given me a three-page letter; it’s more than he gives to most people.”

McCabe : “But I’m sure if the minister read it, he did read it?”

Connolly: “Shatter would have read your report in detail, I know he did, he communicated with me and he will have read all of your exhibits, which I actually labelled them numbered one to nine in the actual, in the order they were highlighted so he did know. And you know I redacted, the only thing I redacted was your name. Alan studied everything in fact I know he did.”

McCabe: “Yeah but do you see the flaw in the system Oliver he goes back to the commissioner, if anyone complains against the……”

Connolly: “You were guarded in the report I have to say in implicating the Commissioner directly you even gave him a way out, you actually said on page 3 he may not be…”

McCabe: “He may not be…”

Connolly: “Yes but the point is and I know what you are saying . I mean I have to say I am surprised.”

McCabe: “I showed you.”

Connolly: “There are other issues that…”

McCabe: “I showed you the records Oliver.”

Connolly: “There are other issues I am aware of that are not related to you at all, course they’ll go to the Commissioner. But I’m very surprised he pushed the man’s appointment, so he was appointed was he?”

McCabe:- “Yeah, he’s now a Chief Superintendant based on what the commissioner told him.”

[they discuss the appointment]

McCabe: “But Oliver what do you do then with all the falsification of records? What do I do with them? What do I do with the hundreds of cases that haven’t been investigated? What do I do with innocent people being set up.”

Connolly: “I tell you Maurice, the only thing I’ll say to you is….”

McCabe: “What?”

Connolly: “Use the public forum of the courts.”

McCabe: “Yeah.”

Connolly: “What I would say to you is I still think you should go for mediation, I don’t think they want all this in the broadcast media. I think you should, you should have your submissions in. I give you some advice, your solicitor and [Michael] McDowell are now aware of it. If you can get them in the court would be happy to accept mediation. And you go in there looking for the numbers and whatever else you want you’ll get it. If stuff was to get out into the public, the print media, it must only come from what happens in the courtroom. I’ll tell you something Maurice and this is just personal advice to you. If Shatter thinks your screwing him, you’re finished.”

McCabe: “Right.”

Connolly: “Forget about it, I mean he is dealing with a lot of **** at the moment, and what I’m saying to you is if stuff is to get into print or broadcasting media, it comes public before the court not any other way. If Shatter thinks it’s you, if he thinks or is told by the Commissioner or the Gardaí here’s this guy again trying another route trying to put pressure on, he’ll go after you.”

McCabe: “Alan Shatter?”

Connolly: “Yeah I mean he will.”

McCabe:-”Alan Shatter will go after me?”

Connolly: “Yes, if he thinks, if he thinks, if he thinks and this is a conclusive finding you don’t know it, you don’t know if it’s Gardaí, it’s none of my business,. What I’m saying to you, if you’re going to kill a king, if you’re going to strike, and I mean in the public forum of the courts with the former AG [McDowell], they’ll be all terribly interested. The broadcasting media will get a field day on your case, it’s actually the only forum to speak to them. Then what will happen with the minister, all’s fair in love and war, if he’s told you see I gave it personally on the day and I’d be very careful. No intermediaries.”

McCabe: “No, no and I’ll give you my word.”

Connolly: “…but what I’m saying to you, you have to that day what you will have to do if Shatter if this turns, he’ll turn with you , he’s scaremongering with the Commissioner, but he’s too close [to the Commissioner].”

McCabe: “But how is that?’

Connolly: “That’s a relationship they [Callinan and and Shatter] forged [during the] Obama [visit]. He [Shatter] was only in the job a month and he had the Queen of England and the President of the United States [visiting] and he’s Minister of Justice and Defence and he has to work very closely [With Callinan] because both their careers, everything is on the line, both of them, Shatter and the Commissioner. He’s his new best friend for about two or three months…”

McCabe: ”The Commissioner?”

Connolly: “Had to be had to be and I would say I’m only speculating.”

McCabe: “No problem.”

Connolly: “I would say he forged a reasonably good relationship with Martin [Callinan] now however I know Alan and what I can tell you that I’m lucky…Listen the Commissioner is taking a view to embarrass you.. What I’ll say to you is, [your report] went to the Department of Justice and that annoyed the Commissioner greatly. I’m sure it’s going to be an embarrassment for the Gardaí, a disaster for them and listen if your complaints are exposed to the print media it will make him an angry man.”


McCabe: “Well I’m not going to the media.”

Connolly: “Journalists not necessary…they’re the public courts.”

McCabe: “Oh sorry you mean at the courts?”

Connolly: “Yes, that’s the only way, if there is anything other than that, and I know this. I’d have journalists calling me up trying to disclose private matters between with dealings I might with have Alan through the back door to Shatter you know. I mean what I have to say to you, you have to just be careful that, you’d have Shatter on your case, he has read stuff I’d say he has been told of you….. give him some other ammunition. Unless the Commissioner is implicated I cannot go to the Minister.”

McCabe: “But it’s amazing the way if he reads that and he goes to the Commissioner and gets the Commissioner’s version he believes totally total what the Commissioner tells him. I mean I can prove every single thing I have. There are injured parties, their solicitors and victims of crime, Oliver.”

Connolly: “The system is wrong.”

McCabe: “Yes the whole lot of it is, isn’t it?”

Connolly: “It provides a function… There are certain reports which I have submitted and given to the Commissioner that I know and they’ll be attended to but they just hit a brick wall for individual Gardaí and because of my close proximity to Alan he’s going to help us and will deal with those. They have been in the broadcast media and they are at the highest state of alert for ‘Maurice McCabe’ and it came to the Minister which implicates the Commissioner but only reason and not necessarily by his flawed appointment that was directly made. That was the substance of your complaint.”

McCabe: “Yeah it was.”

[Oliver Connolly reads out Alan Shatter's response to Sgt McCabe's complaints].

Connolly: “I’d say he spent the whole week.”

McCabe: “I’d say he did. But it’s awful to think that they are all waiting for me, you know, I may give up. Really.”

Connolly: “I haven’t seen your pleadings.”

McCabe: “I may quit Oliver! I have excellent support up where I am. And they all know…”

Connolly: “I know it’s true.”

McCabe: “Em and they all know it’s true. The injured parties know it’s true. And in relation to [REDACTED] was the assistant commissioner in charge of the region at the time.”

Connolly: “Have you been able to serve a statement of claim?”

McCabe: “No. Not just yet, no.”

Connolly: “That’s an important document.”

McCabe: “But Oliver I thought that if I complained against the Commissioner that there is someone appointed then to investigate it.”

Connolly: “In the Department of justice.

Connolly: “The Commissioner should be asked to stand aside, he’s a vested interest…”

McCabe: ”No I wouldn’t.”

Connolly: “To stand aside during the investigation. He’s after investigating himself and is again.”

McCabe: “And Alan Shatter has believe every word he has said. And Oliver I have the hundreds of documents to show it. I showed you evidence of complete…”

Connolly: “I saw.”

McCabe: “Destruction of records. Anyway, ah sure look it doesn’t matter, you know I’ll go through the courts.”

Connolly: “You made a report which outlined and that was the course, you did actually, open to you.”

McCabe: ”And if Alan Shatter saw what I got in relation to the findings and saw what
Brian McCarthy got, the last whistleblower.”

Connolly: “Alan is not out to get you.”

McCabe: “At the moment.”

Connolly: “No. What would cause him to be hostile if further leaks were outside the court because the media actually has a deeply vested interest in your allegations.”

McCabe: “But Alan he should look at Garda headquarters cause that’s where all the leaks were.”

Connolly: “If that was to happen that would create a huge storm for you.”

McCabe: “Yeah but I’m not leaking anything. headquarters have leaked everything so far.”

Connolly: “Now he’d investigate you and I’m saying now (threats inaudible) you have to be very careful.”

Connolly: “Parts inaudible. That will formulate and it is very important and it will be I’m sure. You are looking for your allegations to be validated and you have suffered emotional stress and your saying in your allegations that they are validated and you suffered. If that goes to hearing it’ll come to some agreement…………you have to be very careful you need to get that in there. They’re in a club and if stuff was to get out to the media, be very careful!”

McCabe: “I won’t do that i have too must to lose Oliver . I wouldn’t do it I would not do it that’s in breach of everything.”

Connolly: “That’s good. That’s what important. That’s good.”

McCabe: “And I’d be destroyed.”

Connolly: “It actually would test your credibility in terms of and that would stop them being implicated forever.”

McCabe: ”And [REDACTED] assaulted me and look where he is now.”

Inaudible.

McCabe: “And yet the Minster is saying no that didn’t happen.”

Connolly: “He has listened to the Commissioner.”

McCabe: ”Yes he has.”

McCabe: ”If he interviewed [REDACTED] a victim who was never interviewed, it’s shocking.”

Connolly: “I have to tell you, I would be confident you have put it. It’s over to your legal team if you want finality and redress? I said to you when I first met you personally I think you should avail of mediation. That was a shot across the bow for the Minister. The next stage is the public forum of the courts, the court of public opinion.”

McCabe: ”But Oliver it is clear to see…”

Connolly: “I think you should mediate.”

McCabe: “But sure that’s not up to me to mediate, it’s up to them.”

Connolly: “It’s up to either party to make the application and I would be confident that it would proceed.”

McCabe: “We did make it…”

Connolly: “You didn’t make it.

Connolly: “I came up before two high court judges in late November December period and they didn’t even know it existed. A formal application to allow you to mediate under 156A which you have in your possession invite the parties to mediate, then adjourn the proceedings in order to mediate and if you don’t participate there are cost implications. The state could actually win against you but they would still have to pick up your costs if the state failed to participate with mediation. You have nothing to lose; you have nothing to lose by it all. Either You don’t have to reach a finale for a year if you want but you can compel the other side into it and you’re not compelled to reach an outcome in it. You might get what you want cause I can’t see for the life of me them them wanting that in the broadcast media. That’s an application that has to be made by you.”

McCabe: “We did ask the Garda Commissioner and he said no.”

Connolly: “It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter.”

McCabe: “Does it not, well I don’t know.”

Connolly: “I’m saying to you.”

McCabe: “Oliver, can I just raise one thing.”

Connolly: “You have to ask, you have to ask yourself what is it and your capable of doing it. You can have it done and dusted by Paddy’s day. You’ll be living with this till 2015 you can get the same result by Paddy’s Day or by Easter, it will take you three years and I don’t know how many burst blood vessels. I’m giving you advice and it is very very well worth it!”

McCabe: ”I take all you’re saying, definitely.”

Connolly: “A formal application for formal of notice of motion granting you can apply once you. You can apply now today.”

McCabe: “Oliver can I just say?”

Connolly: “What is it you want?”

McCabe: “But Oliver can I just say my point. Here’s my point Oliver. Where do I go in relation to, where do I go in relation to policing now?”

Connolly: “Can I ask you a question – forget about who you’re going to and where your going to or transfers – what do you want out of this?”

McCabe: “ I want somebody independent to have a look at all the allegations and I would not look for that only I can stand by everything I have said. Because Oliver wait till I tell you why just let this because when it is all over what to I do now. Do I go back threatening and assault the public, not investigate things and hide evidence and destroy records?”

Connolly: “No, no I’m just trying to establish here what you want. What you want is an independent investigation to look into your allegations.”

McCabe: “Yes. Would Martin Callinan…”

Connolly: “I don’t think the courts….”

McCabe: “Oliver we, we are putting innocent people on my system every day of the week as offenders.”

Connolly: “I just thinking how you would get that.”

McCabe: “No but Oliver, Oliver what’s happening here at the moment is the Commissioner is saying it’s OK to falsify records, it’s OK to destroy records, it’s OK that a lady was killed below in Limerick [REDACTED], we can do all that. We don’t have to investigate any cases anymore. We don’t have to investigate assault, abductions, kidnappings, sexual assault. We just leave it and if there is any investigation we will cover up…”

Connolly: “Maurice that can’t happen.”

McCabe: “I could go back…”

Connolly: “Its policy.”

McCabe: “According to Commissioner it can.”

Connolly: ”No it’s when they are exposed they are not investigated in a transparent manner. It actually not their policy they are proactive. Oh there’s a rape let’s not investigated it. It’s not a pro active policy and where is does occur it shouldn’t occur. But where it does occur that’s the problem. You are trying to say Maurice Mc Cabe its terrible, so you would like a massive enquiry.”

McCabe: “Not necessary a massive inquiry.”

Connolly: “You have to step back for a second You have to park your allegations.”

McCabe: “OK we’ll park the allegations.”

Connolly: “What is it you want to bring to your family.”

McCabe: Ok I’ll tell you. My name has been ruined in relation to Cavan/Monaghan. [REDACTED] ruined my name, as did [REDACTED] and as did the Commissioner now. And Alan Shatter is now saying more or less the same.”

Connolly: “Alan’s not but you need to be careful of him. You have to say you respect him as a Minister. He has responsibilities to the Commissioner, shouldn’t be of concern to you. I don’t know if they, the minister for justice, have jurisdiction to appoint an independent….”

McCabe: “They have. It’s in a section in the 07 act where he can appoint a retired judge or a barrister to have a look at it. There is a section there. I didn’t know the one until two years ago Michael McDowell told me..”

Connolly: “ It’s tough.”

McCabe: “I did not know that there was a section. I went through it tooth and nail. Michael McDowell said to me there is a section and I said no there’s not. He said there is. Maurice I brought it in and brought it in for cases like yours and next thing he showed us the section and I think Sean Costello then wrote to Alan Shatter or the previous minister and quoted that section. But they all just say no leave it to the guards, leave it to the guards.”

Connolly: “What was it you were going to give me.

McCabe: “Oh yes I was going to give you , it was come here it’s totally unrelated Oliver total unrelated to. It was in relation to other stuff that was happening and I’m just making a complaint and i wasn’t complaining against anybody. I’m just saying here is what is happening in the force and it should be stopped. That’s all Oliver. Its unrelated to that ok totally is yeah.”

Connolly: “I was hoping it might be something else with your case.

McCabe: “That all only one page.

Connolly: “OK that’s great. It can actually be redacted.”

McCabe: “Basically it about there are guards issuing tickets for that offence, a driving offence, and they aren’t allowed. And I have highlighted all the details.”

Connolly: “I’ve read it. That’s outrageous.”

McCabe: ”Look Oliver I know you’re doing your best but it’s a closed field.”

Connelly: “I am. Not my style I have to say not the strongest.”

McCabe: “But come here Oliver let me make one last point.”

Connolly: “I believe, I believe, I believe you.”

McCabe: “I know you believe me Oliver and its great that you did believe me.”

Connolly: “I believe you and I think the Commissioner has a case to answer. I think you have the evidence they destroyed you, a man has only got his reputation. You were just standing up for what is right if you ask me.”

McCabe: ”I did nothing wrong in my job. I was only doing my job.”

Connolly: “You are not destroyed in the eyes of the media.”

McCabe: “Oh I am and in particular Cavan/Monaghan. No not the public, the guards, but some of them. Oliver I go to work..”.

Connolly: “If what your saying is true, the stress on the family……….. by a senior officer.”

McCabe: “Oliver it was all investigated at the time by the persons in charge of the region and [REDACTED] was getting bonuses at the end of the year so there was no way he was going to come to any findings. He was getting bonuses. I can’t come back, that’s finished now.”

Connolly: “Yes you can.”

McCabe: ”If I went to the Taoiseach’s office would that work?”

Connolly: “No that would just go back to justice.”

McCabe: ”OK, you’re right you’re right.”

Connolly: “You have nothing…”

McCabe: “We have a woman in Limerick in her grave because [REDACTED] was told in writing by a sergeant. This man is in custody for abducting a 5 year old girl.

Connolly: “Why did he not act?”

McCabe: “Incompetence. Incompetence. Half the management are.”

Connolly: “Incompetence.”

McCabe: “Incompetence. Absolute incompetence. Oliver I always tell this. I even told it to [REDACTED]. I was telling him [REDACTED] one day about serious problems, right. And next thing when I was finished he looked to the sky and said Maurice the OPW [ Office of Public Works] are coming Tuesday, will you be around. Everything I said went in his ear and out the other. He was only thinking of the OPW I said to myself, you haven’t ****ing heard what I have said. You know. And he acknowledged that there were serious problems. The standards were gone and he was in charge of them. [Redacted] is the ring leader and covered up. He blamed me for stuff when I was in Mullingar. How can he blame me for stuff and me in Mullingar?”

McCabe: “I thought Alan Shatter might have listened to me. But sure anyway look it there’s nothing we can do.”

Connolly: “Unless you can come again with something fresh.”

McCabe: “I’ll talk to my legal team. No I’m going to let it go to the courts.”

Connolly: “I still think you have to formulate what it is you want out of this. Do you want a public inquiry, I think you want more than that.

McCabe: “Ah I’ll leave it.”

Connolly: “But that’s all relevant to me. Redress is relevant.”

McCabe: “You were very straight and honest with me. And that’s what I like. I’ll talk to my legal team. Just those few issues are all in relation to driving tickets which shouldn’t [have been] issued and they have been issued to members of the public.”

Connolly: “No I see that.”

McCabe: “I just said I’d better do something with that.

Connolly: “Are you saying there is up to 4,000 tickets?”

McCabe: “A year.”

Connolly: “That can’t in fact be issued.”

McCabe: “Can’t be issued without a direction and there are guards with only 6 months service and twelve months service.”

Connolly: “And are there prosecutions being issued.”

McCabe: “No prosecutions, they are paying the fines and two penalty points. They shouldn’t be getting penalty points. You know. Sure that’s its Oliver, I better be motoring.”

Connolly: “All I’ll say to you is that, I’ll get that (referring to the coffee).

McCabe: “OK thanks cheers.”.

Connolly: ”I suppose you went in with your best documents really and you chose long and hard before you gave this information.”

McCabe: “I did. It’s a pity that Alan hadn’t….”

Connolly: “He read all of it.”

McCabe: “No it’s a pity that Alan hadn’t asked me for examples in relation to falsification and destruction of records, that’s what I’d ask but it’s a pity he didn’t ask me. Like, here is what I think Oliver, 80 guards in Mullingar all believe me. 80 guards in Mullingar believe me from the top down and an a/c in Mullingar believe me but yet the ring leader [REDACTED] and I can say that openly if you want and publically. He was the ring leader and he said there is no way that a little Sergeant is going to tell us how to run our job. And he has poisoned me, I know for a fact [REDACTED] has but anyway…”

Connolly: “Hold on a second, no you have to go.”

McCabe: ”Yes I have to go back to Cavan.”

Connolly: “ I have exams.

[They discuss exams]

Connolly: “What I was going to say to you You’d just wonder if your pleadings could also be submitted to me after for the attention so I can give them to the minister.”

McCabe: “We’re putting everything forward.

Connolly: “I think the minister might be interested in.”

McCabe: “Right.”

Connolly: “You know he has an open mind. Genuinely he has. I’ll be very careful what you told me. [he reads from the document again] You will have a forensic document of your statement of claim? You’re entitled to come to me and say that it relates to, I hope you’re going to pursue this.”

McCabe: “Look it, even if I don’t look it.”

Connolly: “It’s a serious error of judgement. The point is….

McCabe: “Oliver, if the minister only took one incident in relation to [REDACTED], a sergeant said to [REDACTED]….

[They discuss pleadings and mediation]

Connolly: “I think the minister might be interested. It’s a pity you hadn’t a more forensic view pleaded by a former holder of his office. I am pretty confident and I have permission to give that to the minister.”

McCabe: “Oliver he has also alluded, I made a complaint against [REDACTED] and he hasn’t made any reference to that.

Connolly: “The Commissioner made a serious error of judgement and he did know or should of known about the malpractice That has to be one of your pleadings and I am entitled to give it to the Minister.”

McCabe: But I also made an allegation against [REDACTED] but he hasn’t addressed that after {REDACTED] covered it up.

Connolly: “Get me the act where a judge can be put in.”

McCabe: “I’ll get you that act it’s under the Criminal Justice Act 2007 and I didn’t know that only for Michael McDowell and I went through it and he found that any time he can appoint a judge or…”

Connolly: “The minister can?”

McCabe: “Yes the minister can.”

Connolly: “Once your pleadings are in and against the Commissioner I am entitled to get them and suggest he is required to do under the regulations but it’s open to the minister to do x. He’s not required to do but it is open to the minister.

McCabe: “Right, thanks for everything Oliver.

Connolly: “Oh we’re not finished.”

McCabe: “No we.re not finished.”

Connolly: “Look. Your pleadings have to be very careful. What is it you want? The one thing you said to me was [you want] an inquiry into your allegations, an apology…so now there are three things Maurice McCabe wants…an inquiry into your actual allegations, apology and decimal sum. Damages.”

McCabe: “But anyway we could talk about it the all night Oliver .as soon as i hear anything I’ll get back to Sean Costello about the pleadings.”

McCabe: “But Oliver even the injured parties and victims of these incidents will say what happened them.”

Connolly: “It can’t be let go. It does require an independent inquiry….I’m totally surprised he [Shatter] went back to the Commissioner.”

McCabe: “It’s a pity when he read it he didn’t realise and see if his wife was abducted the way [REDACTED] was how would he feel?

Connolly: “I must tell you I’m certain he does. But not totally surprised but….”

McCabe: “I know Oliver they are going to try to get me to court to shut me up. As I said to Sean Costello I’m not going to be shut up. I’m not. I want my day in the witness box to tell exactly what happened. To every member of the public that’s where I’m going. They are not going to shut me up…”

Connolly: “OK

renegademaster

won't happen without huge public pressure and if we fancy a chance of living in a country without such blatent corruption we need to put serious pressure on them until we see real change in how things are done round here.

anything short of a revolution will mean this will go on and on forever

Maudi

renegademaster wrote: »

won't happen without huge public pressure and if we fancy a chance of living in a country without such blatent corruption we need to put serious pressure on them until we see real change in how things are done round here.

anything short of a revolution will mean this will go on and on forever

Shatter is a bogey man..I read it ..the threats!! And this is a minister for justice.

renegademaster

Maudi wrote: »

Shatter is a bogey man..I read it ..the threats!! And this is a minister for justice.

some of us have been screming from the top of our lungs for this country not to let things go too far before we assert our right to a fair life, free from this blatent corruption that gets exposed week in week out for far too long,

keep doing nothing and watch what comes next

Maudi

renegademaster wrote: »

some of us have been screming from the top of our lungs for this country not to let things go too far before we assert our right to a fair life, free from this blatent corruption that gets exposed week in week out for far too long,

keep doing nothing and watch what comes next

In years to come it will be compared to chicago gangsters in the 20s

Maudi

renegademaster wrote: »

some of us have been screming from the top of our lungs for this country not to let things go too far before we assert our right to a fair life, free from this blatent corruption that gets exposed week in week out for far too long,

keep doing nothing and watch what comes next

In years to come it will be compared to chicago gangsters in the 20s

Muahahaha

It wasn't all that long ago that we found out that Commissioner Callinan was feeding Garda information about Mick Wallace talking on his mobile phone whilst driving. It revealed the cosy nature of the Minister and Commissioner, feeding each other information on enemies.

This latest round goes a lot further and shows Shatter and Callinan colluding to ignore the whistleblower. It's an outrageous way to treat such an upstanding public servant who was only trying to bring attention to Garda corruption and incompetence.

In light of the above revelations Mick Wallace should now stick the boot into Shatter and Callinan for their spying on him and call for both of their resignations. This thing stinks to high hell at this stage, I don't know how any FGer can support that party after what has gone on. They're supposed to be the party of law and order but between this and the GSOC scandal they are taking on many features of the East German Stasi.

renegademaster

Muahahaha wrote: »

It wasn't all that long ago that we found out that Commissioner Callinan was feeding Garda information about Mick Wallace talking on his mobile phone whilst driving. It revealed the cosy nature of the Minister and Commissioner, feeding each other information on enemies.

This latest round goes a lot further and shows Shatter and Callinan colluding to ignore the whistleblower. It's an outrageous way to treat such an upstanding public servant who was only trying to bring attention to widespread Garda corruption and incompetence.

i keep saying it, this is nothing new, it's the same story all over the world, look at what the americans have doen to Chelsea "Bradley" Manning and there's been a 5 year investigation into Wikileaks and Assange all for exposing the truth while none of those shown to be complicite in war crimes, corruption, financial espionage and illegal spying on all global communications are even considered to be brought to justice.

if we're to use what we know as fact regarding how deep the spying goes to have the upper hand in everything we cannot deny there's worse to come out here yet, if the truth be known

Manach

I am never supported Minister Shatter, finding his agenda too ideological driven to remake the legal system in his own image. However, at a personal level he strikes me as someone with more integrity than the normal politician and in his own, unique way, honest. So (I cheerlfully admit that I could be wrong) this type of operation as might have been conducted against say GSOC not in his character.

golfball37

The top level of the Gardaí are all Political. Its a joke. Callinan was part of the heavy gang that intimidated the familes of the victims of Dublin/Monaghan when they had the cheek to ask questions.

His revelations to Shatter about Wallace just show him up to be not fit for office and a mere Political pawn. Of course this guy Connolly who got the confidential job donated money to Minster Shatter's election campaign. A rotten West African country is all we are in terms of decency.

My bigger gripe with this state and whole affair however is the lack of media coverage or investigative journalism. RTE and 95% of the print press are lickspittles and diversionists. They are not fit to call themselves journalists. Micahel Clifford has at least wrote a few nail on the head pieces on this, not many others can say the same.

Godge

Muahahaha wrote: »

Below, courtesy of Broadsheet.ie, is the full conversation between Garda Whistleblower Maurice McCabe and the confidential recipient Oliver Connollly.

It gives a huge insight into why Shatter is so close to Martin Callinan and why he is trying to make this scandal go quietly away.

IMO this is explosive stuff because it shows the extent of collusion between the Minister and the Commisioner, it talks about rapes not investigated, Gardai not bothering to investigate certainl crimes at all. It paints a very corrupt picture of the Gardai, specifically so at management level where at one stage it appears that the whistleblower got physically assaulted by a senior member of management.

Reading this puts Shatter and Callinan in a very bad light IMO and both of them should now consider their positions.
http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/02/18/garda-confidential-2/

Actually, reading that, the person who should be considering his position is Oliver Connolly.

He appears to state several times that he fully agrees with McCabe and that he supports McCabe. Yet he has been unable to persuade the Minister to hold an enquiry. That means one of two things:

(1) He is lying to McCabe
(2) He believes McCabe but is unable to do his job or is being frustrated from doing his job.

If he resigns on the basis of (2) then there is huge pressure on the Minister and the Commissioner.

However, if Connolly stays in his post and publicly supports the Minister then this is going nowhere.

CatInABox

Godge wrote: »

Actually, reading that, the person who should be considering his position is Oliver Connolly.

He appears to state several times that he fully agrees with McCabe and that he supports McCabe. Yet he has been unable to persuade the Minister to hold an enquiry. That means one of two things:

(1) He is lying to McCabe
(2) He believes McCabe but is unable to do his job or is being frustrated from doing his job.

If he resigns on the basis of (2) then there is huge pressure on the Minister and the Commissioner.

However, if Connolly stays in his post and publicly supports the Minister then this is going nowhere.

He's just been fired actually.

Hugh O'Connell wrote:

Breaking: Garda confidential recipient Oliver Connolly has "been relieved of his duties" by the Minister for Justice.

TheHappyChappy

More dodgy garda dealings - whatever next

adrag

He's been moved pn asap before he drops shatter in more ****

TheHappyChappy

adrag wrote: »

He's been moved pn asap before he drops shatter in more ****

Maybe shatter gave him back his donation to F.G. election campaign too.....

adrag

This stuff goin on wit ags is part of their dna,maybe being around crims all day has rubbed off on them.they act the same as gangs bullying,threats(not empty ones) and intimidation if you dare speak out about them

hatrickpatrick

Agree with the OP 100%, both Callinan and Shatter have completely poisoned the chalice of whatever goodwill there was between the public and the administration of justice in this country. Their behavior over the last couple of years on a number of different issues has been nothing but a disgrace and has served only to undermine public confidence in a police service who, for the most part, try their best to keep us all safe.

The only way, in my view, to end this saga and restore trust between the public and the Gardai is for the Gardai to come under new management.

Going Forward

This justifies a theory I've held for a long time, utter lawlessness in certain areas is a simple result of officialdom actively turning blind eye to behaviour in some areas of this country.

If AGS was genuinely interested in upholding the law correctly we would not have ended up with the disgrace of the gangs of Limerick.

Took an innocent man to be killed.

Then there's the penalty points etc.

A disgrace.

fr3d12

It is truly shocking and maddening how this has been handled from the start.
It's the same old story, cover it up, it's been going on for decades with the abuse so why are we surprised, this is who we are.
There are many honourable Gardaí but none hold a candle to the brave Mr. McCabe, he is a man of integrity and conviction and this is how he has been treated by Callinan and Shatter.
Ministers nor commissioners resign in this country and there doesn't seem to be much noise being made by Labour or the backbenchers.
Even if some high profile heads rolled they will still be rewarded for failing, just toddle off into the sunset with a huge pension like the last shower of failures.
Society on a whole should grow some backbone because the true patriots of this country who died nearly a hundred years ago for us are turning in their graves.

mikep

An taoiseach has annuonced he will deal with "the extremley serious allegations of Garda misconduct"
http://www.thejournal.ie/enda-kenny-serious-allegations-garda-whistleblower-1325226-Feb2014/

Is this going to be the most severe test of his leadership yet as if he agrees with the contention that Shatter had all the info on the alleged misconduct, what will his response be??
I suspect Callinan will have to go at the end of this and Shatter will get off by telling us all, wether it be true or not, that he told the Commissioner to sort if out and nothing happend....

This issue could define Endas time as Taoiseach

Sierra Oscar

mikep wrote: »

I suspect Callinan will have to go at the end of this and Shatter will get off by telling us all, wether it be true or not, that he told the Commissioner to sort if out and nothing happend....

That excuse will not be good enough.

His belittling of the Garda whistleblowers will come back to haunt him. I find it hard to see how he can survive this considering the comments he has made to date and his close relationship to the Garda Commissioner. How can his department lead an effective inquiry into the allegations that have been made considering his conduct to date on this issue?

mikep

I hope Sierra Oscar is right...I'd like to see both Shatter and Callinan gone because of what has gone on already.

A full investigation of all aspects of the operation of AGS would only be worthwhile if these two were gone...but this is Ireland....

Harry Angstrom

They won't resign. "Resign" is not a word in the Irish political lexicon.

Godge

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

That excuse will not be good enough.

His belittling of the Garda whistleblowers will come back to haunt him. I find it hard to see how he can survive this considering the comments he has made to date and his close relationship to the Garda Commissioner. How can his department lead an effective inquiry into the allegations that have been made considering his conduct to date on this issue?

It seems that the allegations of Garda misconduct date back to 2006/07, before Callinan was Commissioner and before Shatter was Minister. Interesting who else will be caught in the crossfire if these allegations are true.

Does anyone know where Dermot Ahern is these days?

My name is URL

Godge wrote: »

It seems that the allegations of Garda misconduct date back to 2006/07, before Callinan was Commissioner and before Shatter was Minister. Interesting who else will be caught in the crossfire if these allegations are true.

Does anyone know where Dermot Ahern is these days?

Still doing your best to deflect criticism of Callinan & Shatter / FG :rolleyes:

It's just pathetic at this stage. We know that Shatter has known about these issues for 2 years and failed to act on it. His credibility, and that of the Garda Commissioner is in pieces. FF's have been in pieces for years already.

Sierra Oscar

Drivetime on RTÉ Radio 1 are covering this now. Really disturbing stuff.

_Kaiser_

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

Drivetime on RTÉ Radio 1 are covering this now. Really disturbing stuff.

Saying what? (for those of us without radio at the min)

Sierra Oscar

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Saying what? (for those of us without radio at the min)

They are basically highlighting the murder of Sylvia Kelly by Jerry McGrath. They played an interview that Mary Lynch, who was viciously assaulted by Jerry McGrath, gave to Newstalk this morning where she highlighted that she was told not to attend court to give a victim impact statement and that she was not even informed when the court case was taking place. She says that she cannot get any answers as to why Jerry McGrath was only charged with a minor assault after he attempted to murder her, and as to why he was released on bail twice before murdering Sylvia Kelly. They also highlighted that McGrath was released on bail again after violently abducting a child during a robbery, and that the judge persuading over this case was not informed of his previous criminality.

RTÉ questioning as to whether there was a coverup. They also replayed the comments that Commissioner Callinan made about the Garda whisteblowers and highlighted that Minister Shatter mislead the Dáil when he stated that the whisteblowers did not co-operate with the Garda investigation into the matters they blew the whistle about. It turns out they were not even approached to have an input into the investigation.

bcmf

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

Drivetime on RTÉ Radio 1 are covering this now. Really disturbing stuff.

Not lstening to it but was tuned into Newstalk all morning and frankly what was revealed is disgraceful.
Callinan should be sacked. No resigning invovled as that implies some sort of pride.
Shatter simply disgusts me the way he has treated ANYONE who has dared cross him.
I slightly disagree in that this will define Kenny's leadership but this will define the size of Labour's balls.
I know Burton was only holding the fort this morning but they should really have a sit down and have a deep think about what is happening.

_Kaiser_

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

They are basically highlighting the murder of Sylvia Kelly by Jerry McGrath. They played an interview that Mary Lynch, who was viciously assaulted by Jerry McGrath, gave to Newstalk this morning where she highlighted that she was told not to attend court to give a victim impact statement and that she was not even informed when the court case was taking place. She says that she cannot get any answers as to why Jerry McGrath was only charged with a minor assault after he attempted to murder her, and as to why he was released on bail twice before murdering Sylvia Kelly. They also highlighted that McGrath was released on bail again after violently abducting a child during a robbery, and that the judge persuading over this case was not informed of his previous criminality.

RTÉ questioning as to whether there was a coverup. They also replayed the comments that Commissioner Callinan made about the Garda whisteblowers and highlighted that Minister Shatter mislead the Dáil when he stated that the whisteblowers did not co-operate with the Garda investigation into the matters they blew the whistle about. It turns out they were not even approached to have an input into the investigation.

At least RTE are asking the questions I suppose. Will anything come of it though?

Godge

My name is URL wrote: »

Still doing your best to deflect criticism of Callinan & Shatter / FG :rolleyes:

It's just pathetic at this stage. We know that Shatter has known about these issues for 2 years and failed to act on it. His credibility, and that of the Garda Commissioner is in pieces. FF's have been in pieces for years already.

No, resignations should take place if there is wrongdoing.

My name is URL

Godge wrote: »

No, resignations should take place if there is wrongdoing.

If there was wrongdoing? C'mon... Shatter deliberately mislead the Dail regarding McCabe's cooperation with an investigation, and Callinan had the bare faced cheek to call him and other whistleblowers 'disgusting' despite being fully aware that McCabe was telling the truth.

How they haven't resigned yet is mind-boggling. If this was happening in the UK they wouldn't be given the opportunity to bloody resign. Not in Ireland though… where retaining their own positions takes precedence to the good of the state and its agencies. Just like we’ve seen happens within the higher ranks of AGS, the culture of loyalty over honesty wins out.

fr3d12

If Kenny values his credibility he should demand the resignation of Callinan and Shatter immediately.
I hope the outrage and disgust by the general public translates into a bloody nose at the local and Euro elections
The fact that they both tried to cover this up while blackening the name of the Garda whistleblowers is in itself a sackable offence.

It's apparent from the transcript that senior Gardaí receive bonuses, I'd like to know under what guidelines, does anyone know?

I truly hope the political will is there to investigate this in full though I doubt very much there is.
Every case the Gardaí in question were involved with would have to looked at which would obviously be a monumental task.
How senior Gardaí are appointed also has to change.

charlie14

Shatter and Callinan are a disgrace.
They shouldn`t be allowed to resign.
They should be sacked,and a investigation into both to determine if charges should be brought.
If Kenny doesn`t grow a pair of balls and do it he`ll be back to the country a lot sooner than 2016.
Labour don`t have a dog in this fight, so i cannot see them, if they have any conscience, backing Shatter or Callinan.

Smash The House

bcmf wrote: »

I slightly disagree in that this will define Kenny's leadership but this will define the size of Labour's balls.
I know Burton was only holding the fort this morning but they should really have a sit down and have a deep think about what is happening.

Labour are obviously keeping quiet until they see how Enda acts. Depending on the size of this though, it has a chance of improving Labours image if they choose to distance themselves from this scandal and Fine Gael.
This is only going to get bigger and the next few days should be interesting...

Fred Cohen

My name is URL wrote: »

Still doing your best to deflect criticism of Callinan & Shatter / FG :rolleyes:

It's just pathetic at this stage. We know that Shatter has known about these issues for 2 years and failed to act on it. His credibility, and that of the Garda Commissioner is in pieces. FF's have been in pieces for years already.

Not to take away from the seriousness of this but this has been in the public domain for the last 4 years.

http://www.rabble.ie/2014/02/18/silencing-the-garda-whistleblowers/

THE GARDA commissioner has received a criminal complaint alleging that assistant commissioner Derek Byrne physically restrained and falsely imprisoned a garda whistleblower in a hotel in Monaghan last month.
Byrne had been appointed to oversee an internal investigation after a garda made a number of serious allegations against his colleagues in the Cavan/ Monaghan area.
He claimed gardaí failed to investigate certain serious crimes including a sexual assault, physical assault, a case of false imprisonment and hijacking.
The whistleblower also alleged that some officers regularly turned up drunk to work. The garda, who has been moved from his station in the Bailieborough district since he made his complaint, also claimed that gardaí posted information about a victim of domestic violence on Bebo, the social-networking website.

If Micheál Martin was so concerned about this he could have asked Dermot Ahern. Agree that there has to be a clear out at senior management level across AGS and DoJ because if they knew about this and did nothing, they are not fit to hold any office.

Harry Angstrom

If Shatter was a minister in the UK cabinet, he'd have long since been forced to resign. Is it any wonder that Irish people are so cynical of their politicians?

Sir Humphrey Appleby

Fred Cohen wrote: »

Not to take away from the seriousness of this but this has been in the public domain for the last 4 years.

http://www.rabble.ie/2014/02/18/silencing-the-garda-whistleblowers/




If Micheál Martin was so concerned about this he could have asked Dermot Ahern. Agree that there has to be a clear out at senior management level across AGS and DoJ because if they knew about this and did nothing, they are not fit to hold any office.

Well put Alan, can we expect Martin Callinan to be the next poster?
Pardon the sarcasm but this thread is about the incumbent Minister and his absolute determination to cover at all times for both Garda malpractice and Garda incompetence.

Slick50

Enda has congratulated Micháel Martin on "doing the right thing", and seemed genuinely un-nerved. He looks like he has been duped by the minister for justice. If Shatter doesn't resign at this stage, I think Enda will have to remove him from office.

Aside: IIRC, around the time Shatter would have been given this information, he was busying himself with legislating for the limiting of hedge hights to two metres.

charlie14

Slick50 wrote: »

Enda has congratulated Micháel Martin on "doing the right thing", and seemed genuinely un-nerved. He looks like he has been duped by the minister for justice. If Shatter doesn't resign at this stage, I think Enda will have to remove him from office.

Aside: IIRC, around the time Shatter would have been given this information, he was busying himself with legislating for the limiting of hedge hights to two metres.

Not the first time he has been duped by Shatter.
Didn`t he back him with the baloney that GSOC were legally bound to inform Shatter, and later had to admit that basically he hadn`t a clue what he was talking about.

Fred Cohen

Slick50 wrote: »

Enda has congratulated Micháel Martin on "doing the right thing", and seemed genuinely un-nerved. He looks like he has been duped by the minister for justice. If Shatter doesn't resign at this stage, I think Enda will have to remove him from office.

Aside: IIRC, around the time Shatter would have been given this information, he was busying himself with legislating for the limiting of hedge hights to two metres.

Don't think he has been duped. I think that they have been confronted by two smart honest men who are prepared to stand up for their principals and do the right thing, at enormous cost to themselves and their families.

I honestly believe they don't know how to deal with a situation where they can't manipulate people because they don't have their own self interest at the forefront of their mind.

Micháel Martin is not doing the right thing, he's jumping on a band wagon and trying to score political points. Mick Wallace did do the right thing by reading the transcript into the Dail record a couple of weeks ago.

Shatter should resign because of what he said.
Callinan should be sacked and investigated to see if any laws were broken in all the cover ups (Boylen, Sylvia Roche Kelly, etc)
Clear out at the top levels of AGS & DoJ because they didn't do anything.
Enda must demand better from his ministers.

fr3d12

charlie14 wrote: »

Not the first time he has been duped by Shatter.
Didn`t he back him with the baloney that GSOC were legally bound to inform Shatter, and later had to admit that basically he hadn`t a clue what he was talking about.

Enda is far from stupid, actually he's as sneaky as Shatter and just because he SEEMED unnerved by the documents/allegations it does not mean he is not complicit, he jumped on the bandwagon with the rest condemining GSOC.The "move along, nothing to see here attitude is a favourite tactic of this Govt.
No FG or Labour TD's on Primetime and none on V. Browne either, they're all too busy with their advisors coming up with BS answers.

Gringo180

Do yous think Enda will sack Shatter?

Harry Angstrom

fr3d12 wrote: »

Enda is far from stupid, actually he's as sneaky as Shatter

Well said. This is the same Enda Kenny who broke down in the Dail last year with his crocodile tears over the Magdalene women, yet a year on, a lot of them have yet to receive their compensation.

fr3d12

Gringo180 wrote: »

Do yous think Enda will sack Shatter?

I doubt it very much, his position of Taoiseach is not in question although it should be and Shatter is one of his most staunch allies in the party.
I hope I'm wrong though.
Connolly is being lined up to be a scapegoat for Shatter.

After Joan Burtons performance this morning Labour should be wiped off the political map in the next election.

Gringo180

fr3d12 wrote: »

I doubt it very much, his position of Taoiseach is not in question although it should be and Shatter is one of his most staunch allies in the party.
I hope I'm wrong though.
Connolly is being lined up to be a scapegoat for Shatter.

After Joan Burtons performance this morning Labour should be wiped off the political map in the next election.

Are all politicians the same in Ireland, cant recall the last decent one in power.

bajer101

It really looks like Enda is about to cut Shatter loose. He sowed the seeds for this over a week ago when out of the blue he mentioned concern about the Oliver Connolly transcript:

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/taoiseach-concerned-about-claim-against-justice-minister-622466.html

Since then, he was been watching closely and today's have a choreographed feel about them. Enda not taking questions so that he can't be asked if he has confidence in the MoJ. Letting Labour fumble all over themselves in the Dail today. Appearing Statesmanlike and above politics by thanking Micheal Martin for bringing the latest whistleblower allegations to his attention and assuring everyone that he will take control and act on it. Shatter is gone. Of course, it is all a load of b0llox. Enda had the info ages ago. Events have just taken too much of a head of steam so he has to act - especially this close to the local elections. He saw it coming last week with the GSOC stuff and laid the ground work. Anyone who accuses him of being a fool is seriously deluded. He has been several steps ahead of everyone in all of this. I wonder did he purposely misquote the legislation to give the impression that he got bad advice from the MoJ?

fr3d12

bajer101 wrote: »

It really looks like Enda is about to cut Shatter loose. He sowed the seeds for this over a week ago when out of the blue he mentioned concern about the Oliver Connolly transcript:

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/taoiseach-concerned-about-claim-against-justice-minister-622466.html

Since then, he was been watching closely and today's have a choreographed feel about them. Enda not taking questions so that he can't be asked if he has confidence in the MoJ. Letting Labour fumble all over themselves in the Dail today. Appearing Statesmanlike and above politics by thanking Micheal Martin for bringing the latest whistleblower allegations to his attention and assuring everyone that he will take control and act on it. Shatter is gone. Of course, it is all a load of b0llox. Enda had the info ages ago. Events have just taken too much of a head of steam so he has to act - especially this close to the local elections. He saw it coming last week with the GSOC stuff and laid the ground work. Anyone who accuses him of being a fool is seriously deluded. He has been several steps ahead of everyone in all of this. I wonder did he purposely misquote the legislation to give the impression that he got bad advice from the MoJ?

I don't doubt your synopsis but If Shatter goes surely Callinan has to as well and no one has focused on his equally damning role in all of this today.

Charlie Flanagan must be licking his lips, he would've been MoJ if Bruton has won the leadership a couple of years ago, he sided against Enda though.

My name is URL

I'd have a new level of respect for Enda Kenny if he showed the gumption to cut Shatter loose at this stage. It'll obviously never happen...

The whole thing is starting to look like an elaborate conspiracy to give a load of retired judges new jobs!

h2005

They should both be sacked and investigated. They don't deserve the opportunity to resign.

Harry Angstrom

Gringo180 wrote: »

Are all politicians the same in Ireland, cant recall the last decent one in power.

Michael Collins wasn't too bad