Mespil Road, Dublin 2
Simon Hogan writes:
“The Grand Canal was beautifully calm last night…”
From top: Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter and former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan; former Garda Confidential Recipient Oliver Connolly; Sgt Maurice McCabe;
You may recall a post from February 18, 2014 containing a transcript of a conversation between former Garda Confidential Recipient, Oliver Connolly and Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe on February 9, 2012.
A day after the transcript was published, Mr Connolly was sacked.
The conversation between the two men came after Sgt McCabe had given Mr Connolly a report containing a number of allegations of Garda wrongdoing.
During the meeting Sgt McCabe was told that the then Justice Minister Alan Shatter had referred his complaints to Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and that no further action would be taken.
Mr Connolly told Sgt McCabe:
“I’ll tell you something Maurice and this is just personal advice to you. If Shatter thinks your screwing him, you’re finished… If Shatter thinks it’s you, if he thinks or is told by the Commissioner or the Gardaí here’s this guy again trying another route trying to put pressure on, he’ll go after you.”
He also told Sgt McCabe:
“What I’ll say to you is, [your report] went to the Department of Justice and that annoyed the Commissioner greatly. I’m sure it’s going to be an embarrassment for the Gardaí, a disaster for them and listen if your complaints are exposed to the print media it will make him an angry man.”
Broadsheet posted the full transcript after excerpts were read into the Dáil by both Independents 4 Change TD Mick Wallace and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.
Readers may wish to note that this is what former High Court judge Kevin O’Higgins concluded in relation to that transcript, in his Commission of Investigation which was published yesterday:
Seems legit.
Read the full O’Higgins report here
Previously: ‘The Truth Has Been Established’
August Wells – touring Ireland and the UK throughout the summer
What you may need to know…
1. The brainchild of Ken Griffin (ex-Rollerskate Skinny, Kid Silver, Favourite Sons) and pianist John Rauchenberger (Daniel Carter, among others), August Wells specialise in baritone, world-weary ballads.
2. The project’s debut album, A Living and a Dying Game, was released in March 2014, and ensured them a busy touring cycle in support, culminating in recent supports in New York’s Bowery Hall for noted Rollerskate Skinny nerd Glen Hansard.
3. Streaming above is A Little Too Real, taken from their recent Windmill Lane session. New single She Was a Question is slated for release shortly through FIFA Records.
4. The band has announced a full schedule of dates around venues and festivals throughout the country for June and July, including Indiependence, BARE in the Woods, and Clonmel Junction festivals. More info here.
Verdict: Another chapter in the accomplished bodies of work of its members, August Wells pack croon-alongs big and strong enough to stand up on their own.
Arís?
at
Hic.
Are Ya having That writes:
‘LeatherJacketGuy’ Gets You Ready For Your First Date with a First Dates Ireland Cocktail – ‘Sex On The Tractor’
Phantom footage from Big Cat Rescue in Tampa Florida by Jeromy Hogue.
The cats are majestic. The treats are yummy. The motion is slow.
And we’re done here.
Independent Alliance ministers, from left: Finian McGrath, Denis Naughton and Shane Ross’ Dan Boyle
Newly-named departments.
Shiny new ‘independent’ ministers.
What could go wrong?
Dan Boyle writes:
Words with established meanings like environment and community have been disappeared. New government departments are being constructed without any seeming logic. Fine Gael thinking isn’t always based on logic.
Take Heather Humphrey’s department – the Department of Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht – might as well be called the Department of those things we’re not that interested in.
The department now residing in the Customs House is to be known as the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The semantic key is the order in which the department’s elements are listed.
The earlier the listing the more a priority it is seen to be. Of course housing should have such priority but is it also indicative of the short cuts/blind eye turned strategies that have failed so spectacularly in the past?
Then we have the Department of Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resources. This is an imported UK idea, as many Fine Gael ‘innovations’ tend to be. In operating this department will be in constant conflict with itself.
Action on climate change means reducing fossil fuel dependency. This will be done in a department also tasked with encouraging fossil fuel extraction.
This contradiction may always have been part of our national energy policy, but why make it even more marked?
That said I like Denis Naughton. He is one of the more competent of the new ministers. I’m hoping he doesn’t see himself as the Minister for Wind Turbine Worriers and Turf Cutters.
It’s the new Independent ministers who will probably create most of what passes for excitement from this government.
How they make the passage from the freedom of opposition to the circumspection of government, is something I’m greatly looking forward to.It has only taken a couple of days for our new Minister for Toll Roads to compromise himself.
Fine Gael has had some experience of being in government with independents. This is where the carving up of government departments in order to placate has come from.
The 1948-51 government had two cabinet positions a Minister for Agriculture and a Minister for Lands.
James Dillon was then the ‘independent’. He had been in Fine Gael and would later lead them.
The other ‘independent’ in that government was Oliver J Flanagan, (father of Charlie) who was a Minister of State equivalent then known as a Parliamentary Secretary. He too would soon become a full blooded Fine Gaeler.
Maybe Enda Kenny is hoping that similar osmosis can happen in this government? Two of three ‘independent’ cabinet ministers were formerly in Fine Gael.
Reconversion wouldn’t be all that difficult, or that much of a surprise.
Dan Boyle is a former Green Party TD and Senator. Follow Dan on Twitter: @sendboyle
London receptionist Nicola Thorp, sent home from PwC for not wearing high heels
Some prominent businessmen feel
A woman should show off her heel
To please some old jerk
She puts up with at work
It makes Mad Men seem awfully real.
John Moynes
Pic Guardian
