Tag Archives: Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan

From top: Templemore College; the Public Accounts Committee this afternoon, from left (front row(  Alan Kelly (Lab) Deputy Chair, Sean Fleming (FF), Chairman. Back row, from left: Shane Cassells (FF), Catherine Murphy (SD), David Cullinane (SF), Bobby Alward (FF), Mary Lou McDonald (SF), Catherine Connolly (Ind) and Peter Burke (FG); Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan

This afternoon.

The Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee’s report into the Garda Training College at Templemore was published this afternoon.

The PAC report finds  Garda management failed to rectify financial situation at the Garda training college :despite numerous opportunities to do so”.

The report says it was “unacceptable” that the C&AG was not informed about financial issues there until ten months after the Garda Commissioner was told about

…and the assertion made by Nóirín O’Sullivan to the Comptroller and Auditor General on 31 July 2015 that she was disclosing all relevant information was “not accurate”

…The PAC says there is a notable absence of common purpose between members of senior management in the force.

The PAC concludes that delays in getting the Department of Justice to sit on a steering group examining the finances at Templemore “does not support the Garda Commissioner’s view that she took decisive action.”

Report criticises O’Sullivan over ‘unacceptable’ Templemore delays (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

There you go now.

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Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sillivan (left) and Justice Minister and Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald

Earlier today, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald outlined the proposed areas for a root and branch review of An Garda Síochána including:

The structure of the force, recruitment and training, oversight and accountability, its culture and ethos as well as the legislative framework for policing.

Meanwhile, via RTÉ

It is understood that the Oireachtas Justice Committee has agreed to give the Garda Commissioner a week to respond to a list of questions on how the force responded to the controversies over breath tests and fixed charge notices The committee will meet tomorrow to sign off on the questions.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan has already said an interim report will be delivered on the controversies in a month and a final report in 3 months.

However, the Justice Committee will focus on the timeline of the gardaí response to the discrepancies over 14,700 wrongful convictions and the number of breath tests being exaggerrated by 1 million.

Meanwhile…

The Taoiseach told the Dáil that he received the Fennelly Report last weekend and has given it to the Attorney General. The report was into the recordings of phone calls at garda stations.

He said the report ran to over 740 pages, with the summary running to 85 pages. He said he would publish it as soon as the Attorney General informs him that he can.

Live Politics, Finance Committee, Garda review (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

o'sullivan

This morning.

Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan before the Justice Committee:

Pressed to offer an explanation as to how the inaccurate recording happened, the Garda Commissioner said it could possibly relate to the fact that checkpoints were designed to be a preventative measure.

“Perhaps it wasn’t as valued as detections“, she told Fianna Fail Deputy Jack Chambers, but said she did not want to detract from the diligent work done by gardai and said the process of establishing the facts was still ongoing.

Deputy Chambers pressed the garda delegation on whether a bonus system paid to senior gardaí could have played a part in the exaggerated figures.

The commissioner said she did not know the details of such a bonus system and agreed to come back to the committee.

Gulp.

More as we get it.

Watch Live here

Garda Commissioner before Oireachtas Committee (RTÉ)

Earlier: Dan Boyle: Rap Sheets In Blue

enda2

This afternoon.

Some online feedback on Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s performance during Leader’s Questions concerning the fate of Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan.

Earlier: Every Breath You Take

noirino'sullivan

This afternoon.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan, announces her resignation plans to “get to the bottom” of recent scandals and “take appropriate action”.

FIGHT!

Earlier: Retaining Confidence

Meanwhile…

She’s in so much trouble.

Meanwhile…..

Hmm.

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Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan with, to her left, Detective Superintendent Tony Howard

But this newspaper can reveal that several senior members of the force have contacted Garda Headquarters in recent days to request instructions and guidance because they either want to submit evidence, or fear they will be called as witnesses.

A number of senior officers voiced concern that this instruction was not forthcoming.

And in further revelations, Ms O’Sullivan – who is at the centre of the Charleton Inquiry – has appointed some of her closest associates to the liaison team with the judge involved.

These are understood to include retired assistant commissioner Mick O’Sullivan and former chief superintendent Brendan Mangan.

It can also be revealed that Detective Superintendent Tony Howard has been made go-between for the force and Judge Charleton.

This is despite the fact that the officer is a close associate of both Commissioner and her husband Detective Chief Supt Jim McGowan…

Good times.

Associates will form ‘ring of steel’ around garda chief in inquiry (Independent.ie)

Yesterday: Maurice McCabe calls for Nóirín O’Sullivan to stand aside during tribunal (Michael Clifford, Irish Examiner)

Rollingnews

9991 Reporters_90504224

This morning.

Harcourt Square, Dublin 2

Garda Commissioner Noirin O Sullivan talking to the media before launching a dedicated 24 Hour phoneline for victims of child sex abuse at the the GardaI Command and Control Centre

Ms O’Sullivan is at the centre of a tribunal of inquiry into the alleged smearing of garda whistleblower that branded him a child sex abuser.

Good times.

Rollingnews

Update:

2/3/2017. Launch - Child Sex Abuse Phoneline. Garda Commissioner Noirin O Sullivan launching a dedicated 24 Hour phoneline for victims of child sex abuse at the Garda Command & Control Centre in Dublin this morning. Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

 

YIKES!

Rollingnews

 

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23/02/2017. Policing Authority . Pictured (LtoR) Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey and Garda Commissioner Norin O Sullivan speaking at the Policing Authority in the Griffith Conference Centre in Dublin this afternoon. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Above: Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan and Assistant Garda Commissioner John Twomey at the Policing Authority

This afternoon.

The Griffith Conference Centre, Dublin.

Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan faces The Policing Authority.

“We welcome the fact we will be able to deal with these issues in a public forum,” she said.

Asked if she was concerned that public confidence in the Garda had been damaged she said the “overture of negative sentiment” undermined many institutions of the State.

“That is something that as police professionals we have to live with every day,” she said. “Am I concerned about it? Of course I am.”

Nóirín O’Sullivan ‘welcomes tribunal’ into McCabe controversy (Conor Lally, Irish Times)

Sam Boal/Rollingnews

Earlier:Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?

File photo. Garda Whistle Blower Story. The Government is in its most serious crisis since its formation, over the treatment of garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe and his family. As the story unfolds, it is dragging more and more politicians, ministers and institutions into its web of deceit. It is now possible that the Government could fall before the Commission of Inquiry gets off the ground. Prominent whistleblower, Sgt Maurice McCabe has claimed he was targeted in a smear campaign by senior members of the Garda. He is supported in his claims by the former head of the Garda Press Office, Superintentent David Taylor. End. 15/9/2014. Under Pressure. Garda Interim Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan, under pressure as she responds to media questions regarding the latest claims by garda whistle blower SGt Maurice McCabe that there have been furter garda abuses of the penalty points system. They were speaking as the minister arrived at the Garda College in Templemore in County Tipperary to meet new recruits. Photo Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

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From top: Garda Commissioner Nóirin O’Sullivan; Senator Michael McDowell

This morning.

In the Seanad.

Senator McDowell said that Ms O’Sullivan should step aside “for the duration of the tribunal until it has reported, or permanently’’.

Mr McDowell said it was totally inconceivable that officers, including senior officers of a disciplined force, should be asked in public to accuse the person in charge of them of grave misbehaviour in evidence to a public inquiry.

He said it would be difficult for them to instruct counsel to cross-examine that person as to her honestly, reliability and suitability for office.

Mr McDowell said the public should not be judge and jury in the matter.

“However, the rights of all persons and the public to fairness come first,’’ he added. “The determination that the commissioner should remain in place during the tribunal is neither fair, nor appropriate nor defensible.”

Michael McDowell calls on Garda Commissioner to stand aside (Irish Times)

Previously: How Did he Get Here?

Rollingnews

File photo: Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan has issued a statement in relation to the Garda whistleblower story involving garda sgt Maurice McCabe, in which she states “ My position remains unchanged. Nothing has emerged in the last three weeks which in any way changes that situation. A campaign of false accusations, repeated and multiplied, do not make me guilty of anything. I have made it clear that I was not part of any campaign to spread rumours about Sergeant McCabe and didn't know it was happening at the time it was happening. I have repeatedly refuted that claim and do so again. The easiest option for me would be to step aside until the Commission finishes its work. I'm not taking that option because I am innocent and because An Garda Síochána, under my leadership, has been making significant progress, with the help of our people, the Government, the Policing Authority and Garda Inspectorate, in becoming a beacon of twenty first century policing”. End. 15/9/2014. Under Pressure. Garda Interim Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan, under pressure as she responds to media questions regarding the latest claims by garda whistle blower SGt Maurice McCabe that there have been furter garda abuses of the penalty points system. They were speaking as the minister arrived at the Garda College in Templemore in County Tipperary to meet new recruits. Photo Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Garda Commissioner Nóirin O’Sullivan

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This afternoon.

The latest statement from Garda Commissioner Nóirin O’Sullivan further refuting rejecting allegations that she was part of the attempted smearing of Maurice McCabe.

‘A beacon of 21st Century policing’?

FIGHT!

Earlier: Destroying Maurice McCabe