Tag Archives: Fennelly Commission

00151620

Attorney General Máire Whelan and Taoiseach Enda Kenny

The Fennelly report has confirmed a serious problem that exists within our democratic process – matters of grave importance are being decided at the very highest echelons within the State without any official record of the discussions that led to them. This allows the participants in these discussions to give widely varying accounts of what actually happened and what was said.

This, in my opinion, is because none of the participants wish to have their actions and words scrutinised by the Irish people as a result of subsequent freedom of information requests from media or academic sources. There was a time when we had leaders who would stand over their words and deeds, but this is what “openness”, “accountability” and “transparency” have come to mean. It is not good enough.

Liam Stenson,
Knocknacarra,
Galway.

Taking note of the Fennelly report (Irish Times letters page)

Fennelly Report: The Digested Read

CallPurcShatt Screen Shot 2015-06-15 at 11.42.39

Former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, former Secretary General of the Department of Justice Brian Purcell and former Justice Minister Alan Shatter (top) and Taoiseach Enda Kenny (above)

You’ll recall Justice Niall Fennelly’s Commission of Investigation.

It was set up in April of last year to investigate the covert recording of phonecalls in some Garda stations between 1980 and November 2013.

It is also tasked with looking into the circumstances of Martin Callinan’s position as Garda Commissioner ending in March 2014 – following accusations that Taoiseach Enda Kenny sacked him.

Last Thursday, a draft interim report from the investigation was distributed to ‘interested parties’. Those mentioned in the draft are being given several weeks to respond to any findings made against them.

Further to this, Ali Bracken, in the Irish Daily Mail (not online), on Friday, reported:

“The interim report has distributed to interested parties, including Taoiseach Enda Kenny and [former Garda Commissioner Martin] Callinan. It is understood that Enda Kenny will come under intense criticism in the report. Brian Purcell and Alan Shatter are also expected to be criticised but not to the same extent as the Taoiseach.”

In addition, Fionnan Sheahan in the Irish Independent on Saturday, reported:

“Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s handling of aspects of the crisis around the secret taping of phone calls at garda stations is criticised in the inquiry into the affair, the Irish Independent understands. However, the Fennelly Commission does not appear to say Mr Kenny forced out former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan in March 2014…

“If the Commission found the Taoiseach sacked the Commissioner without giving him a right of reply, or before discussing it with Cabinet, he would have broken strict laws laid out in the Garda Act. A Garda Commissioner can only be forced out of office by a Cabinet vote. The inquiry appears to conclude Mr Callinan resigned. Mr Kenny has denied Mr Callinan was sacked by the Government in March 2014 and insisted he merely resigned.”

Bewildered Student writes:

“These are the only news reports I’ve seen in regards to the contents of the Fennelly draft interim report. Because it’s a criminal offence for recipients of the report to discuss its content, I guess we can only expect these snippets. Still though, I thought it might be worth highlighting these reports so we can compare them to the final report…”

Fennelly critical of Kenny in garda tape inquiry (Irish Independent)

Previously: Thin Blue Timeline [Updated]

Martin’s Letter

Getting Their Story Straight

Photocall Ireland

Screen Shot 2015-06-09 at 11.57.38

Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter

Newstalk reports:

“Alan Shatter has instructed his legal team to appeal the High Court’s refusal to quash parts of the Guerin report. The report, which led to his resignation as Justice Minister, looked at the garda handling of complaints made by whistleblower Maurice McCabe, including claims of grave deficiencies in the investigation of crimes.”

Meanwhile…

“The interim report of the [delayed] Fennelly Commission, which deals with the resignation of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, is expected to be distributed to interested parties this week…“

Gulp.

Alan Shatter instructs legal team to appeal High Court’s refusal to quash parts of Guerin report (Newstalk)

Inquiry to examine department oversight of IBRC transactions (Irish Times)

Previously: The Thin Blue Timeline [Updated]

Meanwhile At The High Court

Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland