
Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan and other senior Garda staff at the Public Accounts Committee last month
This morning.
In the Irish Examiner.
Daniel McConnell reports:
“In 2016, when allegations of a smear campaign against Sgt Maurice McCabe emerged, the spend by the force with the Communications Clinic, owned by Terry Prone, jumped from €10,400 to €92,995, according to figures obtained by the Irish Examiner.
Garda sources denied that the money primarily went on Ms O’Sullivan and senior officers, insisting it mainly went on training superintendents who deal with the media. However, senior officers who appear before Oireachtas committees do receive training in advance of hearings.
…The amount paid by the force to the Communications Clinic and Carr Communications between 2014 and now is €137,626. Just €4,620 of the total amount went to Carr Communications, the figures reveal.
So far in 2017, €28,851 has been paid to the Communications Clinic.
In response to a parliamentary question from Ms Murphy, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said his officials spent €27,313 with the Communications Clinic between 2014 and 2016.”
Gardaí spend thousands on ‘coaching’ for appearances before Dáil committees (Irish Examiner)