From top: Frenzy and Betrayal (top) by Alan Shatter, above right with Leo Varadkar in 2010
Alan Shatter launching his book this evening. Here’s a short extract in which he 🔥s the current Taoiseach pic.twitter.com/qMWG4WzvYs
— Hugh O’Connell (@oconnellhugh) May 29, 2019
The ex-Dublin Rathdown TD writes at length about a now infamous speech given by Mr Varadkar at a road safety conference in March 2014.
Mr Varadkar called on then Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan to withdraw controversial remarks he made about the two Garda whistleblowers, Maurice McCabe and John Wilson.
The commissioner used the word “disgusting” in relation to the leaking of details of the scrapping of penalty points by the two men.
By contrast, Mr Varadkar described them as “distinguished” and suggested the Department of Justice was not properly investigating the allegations.
Mr Shatter was in Mexico on government business at the time and felt “ambushed” by the comments.
In his book, he claims Mr Varadkar chose to “entirely ignore” briefings from the Department of Justice on the actions being taken and the fact the issue had been referred to the Garda Inspectorate.
Mr Shatter says the RSA event was used “as a platform for a publicity-seeking piece of self promotion”.
“The speech also clearly promoted the false narrative that both Callinan and I had ‘turned a blind eye to McCabe’s complaints…”
“I believe that Varadkar was opportunistically reigniting a controversy, despite knowing the background to be more complex than the public could have understood or as presented by Opposition politicians and media commentators.”
He continued: “Varadkar was depicted as the handsome hero, Luke Skywalker, and Martin Callinan and I joined at the hip as Darth Vader, with the shadow of Maurice McCabe cast across the whole stage.”
Leo Varadkar betrayed me to win power, Shatter claims (Independent.ie)
Previously: Revenge Is A Cold Canapé
Thanks Bebe
He’s yesterday’s man, why is his third class essay even getting the time of day. Is he not happy to sit at home counting his pensions.
It’s a free country Cathal. You can choose not to buy his book. It’s not compulsory.
Isn’t it compulsory to mock Shatter and his book? If it isn’t, it damn well should be.
as oliver Connolly said to McCabe “if shatter thinks youre screwing him, youre finished.”
maybe a bit of introspection from the hubristic shatter about his misleading the dail, trusting callinan etc etc
“Varadkar was depicted as the handsome hero, Luke Skywalker, and Martin Callinan and I joined at the hip as Darth Vader.”
He pulled that pop-culture reference from the darkest recesses of his memory when he saw Star Wars at the Stella back in ’77.
haha
His prose style is rubbish. How’s he on soft porn?
Notwithstanding his self promotion, Varadkar was right in the ‘distinguished’ comment he made regarding the Garda whistleblowers.
Go home Bodger. Your best headline ever. You’ll never top that.
(she says, throwing down the gauntlet with a careless laugh)
+1
Made me snort in work.
Hello Maria Bailey
your ma
shatter throwing a hissy fit over discovering someone he thought was on his side was quick to opportunistically stab him in the back… cynthia owen could relate to that, alan
Oh de Shatter buke is being launched this evening – thanks for the reminder. Deffo dropping into that.
Also “The [Varadkar] speech also clearly promoted the false narrative that .. Callinan .. had ‘turned a blind eye to McCabe’s complaints…”
Exactly Alan, Callinan didn’t turn a blind eye to McCabe’s complaints, the Charleton Tribunal was quite clear on that!
Guest speaker Paul Williams! Talk about low brow.
https://www.facebook.com/events/hodges-figgis/book-launch-frenzy-and-betrayal-by-alan-shatter/380916845854899/
Is he still under the illusion that Callinan did nothing wrong?
Clearly. FG man through and through. They also believe that Frances was exonerated. Delusional.
That wasnt delusional, that was historical whitewashing so she could run in the Euro elections.
I’m still sick to my stomach when I heard Marian Finucane kept parroting the line “she was exonerated” only for the rest of RTE to follow suit.
Mr. Wall why is it you never respond to comments on your own articles here on broadsheet?
I responded once or twice in the past, I think, but overall it’s best not to.
Your arrogance is noted.
Lol.
As is your curmudgeoness.
I’m not a particular fan of Bryan’s writing, but don’t be such an egoist, curmudgeon, the world does not owe you a response.
how is that arrogant of him? perhaps the opposite
Dunno about arrogance now but I always commented on mine
Shur’
The comments were the best bit of any Frillbit
IMO anyway
Mind you I never asked for comments to be deleted
Or cribbed about them
Or got other people to do it for me
Yes, Boyler adopts the same selective response tactic. I believe that when one puts their heavily- opinionated articles out into the public domain then they have a duty to respond to questions on it. Not all agree it seems. Least of all the writers.
Ahem
Wasn’t referring to you at all Frillser. But honestly, if I wrote a piece, whether it contained anything controversial or not, I’d stand in the wings and answer any questions and provide clarification where there may be ambiguity. This diving and ducking and selective-responding indicates someone is not prepared to stand by their word – so you’d wonder how serious they were about the piece in the first place.
Wouldn’t be known for staying out on the wings either Spag
but I take your point as I never understood why columists wouldn’t engage with the Comments
Although having said that
And I promise this isn’t meant to kick sum’ting off or allude to any one in particular
But I don’t for a minute believe lads and or their pals weren’t commenting under cover
And then there’s yer manno that kicks off on the Twitter before anyone even has a chance to wade through his column
Shatter was taking on the legal profession gravy train and was shafted. A great shame as he might have actually had some success. We all continue to pay (literally) the costs of his failure.
He’s not wrong about Leo in fairness