Head of HR at An Garda Siochana, John Barrett, speaking at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee in May
Earlier this week.
The head of HR at An Garda Siochana John Barrett wrote an 88-page document to the Public Accounts Committee to assist it further in its inquiries into the financial irregularities at the Garda College in Templemore.
Further to this.
Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, in the Irish Examiner, reports that in his statement, Mr Barrett has told the PAC:
He was subjected to a “whispering campaign”, with his “reward for my persistence” in highlighting garda college financial concerns being “spurious criminal allegations” that he breached the Official Secrets Act by keeping notes on what he found;
That one senior garda sent him documents at the time of his discoveries about the garda college “to suggest that I was aware of all the issues at play and that I did nothing for a number of months”, a claim against Mr Barret that has been proven to be untrue;
That Ms O’Sullivan’s PAC evidence about when she was informed about the garda college concerns is contradicted by clear, private records from the period kept by Mr Barrett;
That garda head of legal affairs Ken Ruane and director of communications Andrew McLindon were subjected to “revised reporting arrangements” and different management structures after highlighting the college issue alongside Mr Barrett.
In a separate section of his 80-page letter, Mr Barrett also called for a forensic examination of the St Raphael’s Garda Credit Union since 1999, which he said is needed to uncover whether EU funds and other money related to the garda college passed through accounts.
He concluded by quoting a book called Lies In The Mirror by current Disclosures Tribunal chair Mr Justice Peter Charleton, in which the retired judge writes that “deceit is the primary instrument for doing evil”.
Claims of ‘whispering campaign’ over Garda College scandal (Irish Examiner)
Pull the ceiling down on your way out mate..
ah here
only the Directors of the Credit Union can call for a Forensic Audit;
off their own bat
or at the request of an AGM/EGM of its members
or at the insistence of the Central Bank
If there is the slightest whiff of something untoward then, the Central Bank must act, it can’t be left to
an AGM or a EGM as a resolution might not be carried….the reputation of Credit Union is at stake and in this
case one comprised of members with a function uphold the laws and organs of the State