Senior gardaí ‘tried to destroy’ whistleblower

My name is URL · 04-10-2016 05:33PM #1

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/senior-gardai-tried-to-destroy-source-424048.html

Two senior gardaí have made statements under whistleblower legislation alleging that senior garda management conducted a major campaign to “destroy” a whistleblower within the force.

The disclosures detail a number of different strands to the campaign, which was conducted over a number of years.

These include:
Generating hundreds of text messages which were disseminated among a large group of officers with the instructions to attack the whistleblower’s character;

The creation of an intelligence file on the whistleblower;

The deployment of an officer to monitor the activity of the whistleblower on Pulse, the Garda computer system;

The briefing of elements of the media about the whistleblower, laying emphasis on entirely false allegations about the whistleblower’s character;

The briefing of selected politicians in a similar vein.

Seems like a serious and orchestrated campaign by Garda management. I wonder if heads will roll over this. Unsurprising to see the incestuous relationship that gardai, politicians and the media have come to light.

No doubt the usual lot be along to defend or downplay the seriousness of this.

Birneybau · 04-10-2016 05:53PM

There was another article about the same topic I read over the weekend. The whistleblower was walking into the station and was stopped by a fellow guard. 'Ah, here, where are you going? Sure you're finished' or something to that effect.

Samaris · 04-10-2016 06:00PM

Poor guy (or woman, whoever it was). Over a number of -years-? It'd be driving most people out of their minds within a month.

hatrickpatrick · 04-10-2016 06:02PM

Nothing remotely surprising about this, unfortunately. What would be very (pleasantly) surprising would be if anybody in the senior echelons of the Gardaí, or indeed the DOJ if they were involved, actually suffers meaningful consequences.

Don't forget that it took no less than four consecutive scandals over a period of at least five - six months to claim the resignations of Martin Callinan and Alan Shatter. Unfortunately in Ireland, just like in most of the world it seems, senior people do not face accountability without a fight.

My name is URL · 04-10-2016 06:06PM

Birneybau wrote: »

There was another article about the same topic I read over the weekend. The whistleblower was walking into the station and was stopped by a fellow guard. 'Ah, here, where are you going? Sure you're finished' or something to that effect.

There was also that time when a whistleblower had a dead rat nailed to his front door. Ugly nasty stuff

Certain elements within the gardai simply see themselves as being above the law, and anyone wanting to see that culture ended; as an enemy.

I doubt this will cement public support for them, in their threatened strike actions.

Your Face · 04-10-2016 06:13PM

Unacceptable behavior if allegations are true.

jmayo · 04-10-2016 06:14PM

If all thigns were equal and the allegations can be proven the whistleblower should sue the ar** off the individuals, the AGS and dept of justice.

Problem with that is, the state usually threaten plaintiffs with never ending legal fees and force them to give up.
And what will be done to those who have already left the force.

I always thought it would be nice to have a little piece of legislation added in Ireland where if it is subsequently found that retirees in receipt of a state pension (and the usual lump sum) have broken the law or abused their position while in the employ of the state, they lose their pension, have to repay any pension already received and any lump sums received.

For a start something like that would have recouped millions from haughey, burke, and probably a host of others we hardly hear of.

Joshua J · 04-10-2016 06:19PM

lol Laws are for the plebs only. Do people actually still think otherwise?.

Ted111 · 04-10-2016 06:23PM

jmayo wrote: »

Problem with that is, the state usually threaten plaintiffs with never ending legal fees and force them to give up.

The tactic they actually use is to contest all the way because it often takes over ten years for it to get to court. They've all retired. It's not their money that's in jeopardy it's yours and mine. They don't give a fck.

Alf Stewart. · 04-10-2016 06:28PM

The govt have a threat of an all out garda strike hanging over them for several days next month from the Gards.

Info like this emerges before the strike.

Conveniently.

My name is URL · 04-10-2016 06:40PM

Alf Stewart. wrote: »

The govt have a threat of an all out garda strike hanging over them for several days next month from the Gards.

Info like this emerges before the strike.

Conveniently.

The fact that whistleblowers were targeted and had their characters tarnished by false allegations has has been well known for 2 years or more. It's just because 2 gardai have now officially made disclosures that it's in the news again.

Nothing to do with government. In fact it could be as damaging for them and the Dept. of Justice as it is for Gardai.

Alf Stewart. · 04-10-2016 06:45PM

My name is URL wrote: »

The fact that whistleblowers were targeted and had their characters tarnished by false allegations has has been well known for 2 years or more. It's just because 2 gardai have now officially made disclosures that it's in the news again.

I'm just deeply cynical as to just how low this government could stoop, the last one had been engaging in divide and conquer tactics since its beginning, I expect no less from this one.

Nothing to do with government. In fact it could be as damaging for them and the Dept. of Justice as it is for Gardai.

Shatter has already been fallen on his sword, I can't see Fitzgerald taking any rap for Shatter/Callinans exploits.

As I said, I'd put nothing past them.

cursai · 05-10-2016 08:48AM

Whistleblowers........people are conned easily.

HensVassal · 05-10-2016 08:54AM

My name is URL wrote: »

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/senior-gardai-tried-to-destroy-source-424048.html

Seems like a serious and orchestrated campaign by Garda management. I wonder if heads will roll over this. Unsurprising to see the incestuous relationship that gardai, politicians and the media have come to light.

No doubt the usual lot be along to defend or downplay the seriousness of this.

Just like US cops are putting their lives on the line each day to keep people safe (nevermind that you have a better chance of dying on the job as a construction worker or farmer) and should be allowed to shoot dead anyone they want, Gardai have to deal with "scumbags" everyday so should be given a pass when it comes to wrecking the life of someone who might expose corruption and malfeasance.

SEPT 23 1989 · 05-10-2016 09:27AM

for their own good they need the RUC treatment

05-10-2016 09:30AM

My name is URL wrote: »

I wonder if heads will roll over this.

This is where several gifs of hysterical laughter should be put.

Mr. Incognito · 05-10-2016 09:41AM

http://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/05/26/maurice-mccabe-and-the-plastic-rat/

biko · 05-10-2016 10:54AM

Bastards management guards for orchestrating this.
And bastard low-level regular guards for joining in. Cowards.

Fair play to the two guards that came forward and exposed the whole thing, well done!

steddyeddy · 05-10-2016 10:58AM

Low lives.

jmayo · 05-10-2016 11:27AM

The thing is this doesn't just lie with Callinan.
Who was one of his chief subordinates, but none other than the now Commissioner.

They should have gone for an outside person, but no this is Ireland where one of the insiders has to get it.
See how that worked out for the Central Bank and for indeed our entire banking system.

_Kaiser_ · 05-10-2016 12:12PM

I've said it before, but we need a complete clear-out and dismantling/rebuilding of the Gardai from the ground up.. the rot is too deep and widespread for the organisation to be saved. This is only the latest in a series of similar scandals that goes back decades.

We don't have a professional police force in this country. We have a keystone cops brigade where good people (on both sides) are victimised so the status quo can be maintained.

mynamejeff · 05-10-2016 01:05PM

HensVassal wrote: »

Just like US cops are putting their lives on the line each day to keep people safe (nevermind that you have a better chance of dying on the job as a construction worker or farmer) and should be allowed to shoot dead anyone they want, Gardai have to deal with "scumbags" everyday so should be given a pass when it comes to wrecking the life of someone who might expose corruption and malfeasance.

how many scumbags do you think senior garda management deal with every day ?

this isnt a story about the man or woman on the beat. this is a story about management of the ranks above superintendent which are politically appointed thus tend towards corruption.

for my money a uk style police management by qualified civilian staff would be a good step

also Michael Clifford has a consistently anti garda agenda which is often ill informed inaccurate and needlessly provocative.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 05-10-2016 01:16PM

HensVassal wrote: »

Just like US cops are putting their lives on the line each day to keep people safe (nevermind that you have a better chance of dying on the job as a construction worker or farmer) and should be allowed to shoot dead anyone they want, Gardai have to deal with "scumbags" everyday so should be given a pass when it comes to wrecking the life of someone who might expose corruption and malfeasance.

You have just suggested lawlessness. Not sure if you are narrating the OP or if this is your opinion. If it's the later, never hold a position of power....

seamus · 05-10-2016 01:17PM

This is great. This is an illustration that a real desire for change is starting to get a foothold within the force. The hardest part of attacking corruption and the "old boys club" of any organisation is breaking the unspoken and institutional processes that tend to poison the minds of new members.

New members are never going to go against the flow, and once they've been "educated" on "how things are", they become complicit in these nefarious activities and start defending them.

That two senior Gardai are now coming out in defence of another whistleblower, who I'll presume is probably Maurice McCabe, shows that this attitude is beginning to break down; that more and more Gardai want to route out this corruption and more and more are willing to come forward.

Whether there are any actual repercussions is somewhat a side-issue here; the more decent Gardai who are willing to stand up and blow that whistle, the fewer bad apples there will be who are willing to be blatant about what they're doing.

All forces have corruption; the aim should be to retreat this corruption into quiet corners and catch it when it happens; not to promote it and allow it to be endorsed from the top.

Water John · 05-10-2016 01:27PM

Mick Clifford is a top class journalist. The Examiner would not run his reportage unless they were absolutely sure of him.
Attacking Mick is pathetic and has form on previous threads.
The culture within the Gardai has to be deconstructed and rebuilt, similar to what was done with the PSNI.
This has been obvious since the Donegal fiasco. What's that 10/15 years ago.

Has any Govn't the liathriodi to do it?

martingriff · 05-10-2016 01:35PM

Whole wide change is needed in the guards is needed now the name itself is ruined which is sad for the honest working cops out there. I was not 1 bit surprised (appalled yes) when i saw this. What ever job you are if you are seen as a whistleblower your more than likely will leave the job your in.

I remember watch an episode of aircraft investigation and a crash had happened due to repairs not been done and falsifying records. A guy came out as a whistleblower was put on administrative leave by company. Eventually won a case on harrassment but never worked in the industry itself.

I know its America but i am sure its the same in most countries. Unless the whistleblower remains not known it will happen

cursai · 05-10-2016 01:45PM

these people do not seem to be legitimate whistleblowers. None of the allegations they have made have proved real. The penalty points one was known by everyone. THey seem to me to be disgruntled employees and itd be interesting to know about their work histories. i bet they have very dodgy records themselves.
Although i do agree the force needs to modernised and outside agencies managing it. For modernising reasons not for the reasons the anti-authority, angry attentioin seeking brigade are giving.

Floppybits · 05-10-2016 01:46PM

It takes an awful lot of courage by these Garda whistleblowers to do what they have done. To go against the entire force knowing what is going to happen to them.
I reckon the 2 officers that have come forward are more about protecting their own arses now that they have seen the way the wind is blowing.
The only solution is a clear out of the top brass and for people from the outside with no ties to anyone in the country be put in place.
On another note as a country we do need stronger legislation where wrong doing or negligence in a role has taken place. This should that person loose all entitlements that they have received in that role. I bet that would make some of the people in those roles concentrate better.

expectationlost · 05-10-2016 02:16PM

could these two be the gardai who were on tape trying and are trying to save their own necks now?

Floppybits · 05-10-2016 02:24PM

expectationlost wrote: »

could these two be the gardai who were on tape trying and are trying to save their own necks now?

that's what I think they are doing. This is not done out of some sense of justice, this is just a save our arses measure.

Your Face · 05-10-2016 02:25PM

expectationlost wrote: »

could these two be the gardai who were on tape trying and are trying to save their own necks now?

That was my first thought.
Could be rats leaving a sinking ship.

Senior gardaí ‘tried to destroy’ whistleblower

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