Published 22:46
INTERIM GARDA COMMISSIONER Noirín O’Sullivan shook hands and chatted with the whistleblower John Wilson outside Leinster House this afternoon.
As she left the Oireachtas following her appearance before the Justice Committee this afternoon, O’Sullivan, who is interim commissioner following the retirement of Martin Callinan, crossed the plinth to shake hands with Wilson and chat with him.
She appeared in good spirits and was smiling throughout the conversation which took place in front of the car park just outside the entrance to Leinster House. Before she departed she also chatted with independent TD Michael Healy-Rae.
Wilson is a former member of the gardaí who quit the force and has since spent several years highlighting issues of garda malpractice including improper cancellation of penalty points.
His actions and those of fellow whistleblower, serving sergeant Maurice McCabe, were described as “quite disgusting” by former commissioner Martin Callinan earlier this year.
As she left, O’Sullivan shook hands with Wilson again and said to him: ”John, I’ll talk to you again soon.”
Afterwards Wilson said that he had implored O’Sullivan to make contact with his fellow whistleblower McCabe.
“We had a general chat and I told her to lift up the phone and ring Maurice McCabe. I said: ‘Forget about the rank structure, go direct. You’re the interim garda commissioner.’ I said: ‘Lift up the phone and call Maurice McCabe.’” he said.
“She said to leave it with her, but she’s going to hopefully contact him directly. He’s out sick since Monday, again, and he has documented in the region of 13 instances of harassment in the last month.
“Really and truly the man finds it impossible to go into work and carry out his duties as a member of An Garda Siochána.”
Wilson said that McCabe has to be allowed carry out his “full duties” as a Garda sergeant describing him as a “highly-respected member of An Garda Siochána”.
Originally published 17:00
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