From top: Assistant Secretary to the Department of Justice, Ken O’Leary; Former Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald and former Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan
The release of a series of emails from the Department of Justice last night included how, on Saturday, July 4, 2015, RTÉ journalist John Burke sent a press query to the Garda Press Office.
Mr Burke asked about the former Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan’s counsel questioning Sgt Maurice McCabe’s motivation at the O’Higgins Commission of Investigation.
Subsequent to this, in an email from the Department of Justice Secretary General Office Assistant Secretary Ken O’Leary to the then Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, Mr O’Leary stated Ms O’Sullivan phoned him “to let me know they had received queries from Colm O’Nongain [sic] about Sgt McCabe”.
Mr O’Leary added that the Garda Press Office was asked “was it the Garda Commissioner who had instructed counsel to adopt an aggressive stance towards Sgt McCabe at the O’Higgins Commission”.
He told Ms Fitzgerald: “The Gardai are not commenting.”
He then went on to advise Ms Fitzgerald, who was scheduled to appear on RTE’s This Week on Sunday, July 5, 2015, to say the following:
“Both the Garda Commissioner [Noirin O’Sullivan] and myself have made it clear that Sgt McCabe is a valued member of the Force.”
She was also advised to say she couldn’t comment on the O’Higgins Commission of Investigation and that:
“…it would be wrong of anyone to make public comment which might interfere with or attempt to influence those proceedings in any way.”
In addition, Mr O’Leary also told Ms Fitzgerald that she could say:
“It would be wrong of anyone to make public comment which might interfere with or attempt to influence those proceedings in any way. The Commission clearly has to be let take its course.”
In the end, Ms Fitzgerald wasn’t asked about the matter when she appeared on RTE’s This Week on Sunday, July 5, 2015.
In addition, the emails released last night weren’t sent to the Disclosures Tribunal – which began its work in February – until yesterday.
Further to this…
Last night…
Ms Fitzgerald tweeted…
1/2 As Justice Minister I could not interfere with the O’Higgjns Commission. This is confirmed twice in today’s docs & has been confirmed by the AG.
— Frances Fitzgerald (@FitzgeraldFrncs) November 27, 2017
2/2 The Tribunal will objectively judge the appropriateness of my conduct. I look forward to giving my evidence to the Tribunal early in January.
— Frances Fitzgerald (@FitzgeraldFrncs) November 27, 2017
And this morning…
FG contacts are almost incredulous that Frances Fitzgerald remains in cabinet this morning – if #ge17 follows they will find it very tough to go to the country trying to defend her from the hand-in-glove narrative outlined in the new emails
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 28, 2017
Meanwhile…
Is this the start of the floodgates? @1Hildegarde tells RnaG’s @Adhmhaidin “it will be difficult” for Fitzgerald to remain in cabinet
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 28, 2017
Last night: Adduce This
Previously: Unredacted
Rollingnews
Caption under photos says “former minister of justice” has she resigned from cabinet?
She’s no longer minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan is
Thanks. Tis madness.
insidious relationship going on between the dept of justice & An Garda Siochana isn’t there? And we’re to believe she had no clue of the tactics being used against McCabe? She was being told by an AGS how to get bloody dressed in the morning for crying out loud..
incorrect
correct
Ken O’Leary, would you buy a used car……………………..
Bang of Swiss Tony alright.
“Politics is very much like making love to a beautiful woman…”
He has the look of a man who has spent his entire working life in the Civil Service. Knows how to fawn and look busy. Hours of plotting have kept him from crumbling.
Always be seen with a biro in your hand