Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Committee is expected to move forward Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan’s next appearance at the committee, vice-chairman Alan Kelly has said.
O’Sullivan was originally planned to appear before the committee on 13 July, but Kelly said he wants that date brought forward in light of a new dossier on the alleged misappropriation of funds at the Templemore Garda College given to the committee yesterday.
A 122 page document details how the Head of Human Resources for An Garda Síochána, John Barrett, raised concerns about the alleged misappropriation of millions of euro at the college.
O’Sullivan had initially told the PAC that she had found out about the cash controversy at Templemore during “a brief chat” with Barrett over a cup of tea, something he has denied.
Barrett told the PAC that he had taken extensive minutes of the meeting, which he said lasted over two hours.
Kelly told TheJournal.ie that in light of the widespread contradictions he plans to bring forward the date at which the commissioner was due to appear before the PAC.
“I think it is necessary now that Noírín O’Sullivan and other witnesses come into the PAC sooner than the 13 July – in the next couple of weeks – and I will be discussing that with my colleagues tomorrow,” said Kelly.
“The level of contradictions throughout the meeting is something I have never witnessed before,” said the Tipperary TD.
“This issue can’t keep going on. We need to deal with the controversies around this, we need to deal with the issues around it – there are so many questions.”
The financial irregularities at the college include a fund that was used for gifts and entertainment, rent collected for a site that should have been paid to the Office of Public Works and the transfer of money to the Garda Boat Club.
O’Sullivan said the matter dates back 30 years and that she only became aware of them in 2015.
During Leaders’ Questions, the Taoiseach said he continues to have confidence in the Garda Commissioner.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin the financial irregularities at Templemore requires urgent action by the Government.
“You cannot wash this thing away, week after week – do you not get it,” Martin asked the Taoiseach this afternoon.
“This is stretching the credibility of the force to its very limit, and with it the Government’s as well,” he added.
One has to wonder why this woman still has a job as commissioner. Why fg and ff?
@LITTLEONE:
One has to wonder why Gerry still has a job after what he got up to? Never part of any organisation…………………….yeah right.
Mary Lou and Jonathan Dowdall, a wall of silence there. Now one has to wonder why Mary Lou nominated him for the council.
@LITTLEONE: Because she has the dirt on both of them. They also realise the woman won’t slink away quitely like Calinan did.
And a corrupt government needs a corrupt police force. A reformed police force doing its job as constituted could allow the likes of NAMA or a certain business man carry on as they do. They could not be used as a private security force by the same business man or as security for the sherrifs evicting people using false or forged documents. The wholesale mortgage fraud by the banks would be properly investigated. And they wouldn’t stand up in court and lie about protesters, arrest them, or harass them.
@Dave Doyle: “could not allow”
@Alan Cooke:
F – Must Try Harder.
@Alan Cooke: What does that rant have to do with Norin O’Sullivan……who the actual story is about?? Strange.
@Dave Murray: Exactly. Unless he’s referring to the confidential information in relation to a murder which Gerry Adams gave to Noirin O’Sullivan, which then got leaked to the media.
And who’s the bad guy in that scenario?
@The Risen:
Is that the McConville murder that was rumoured to have been ordered by the same Gerry you are referring to?
Hard to make a comment on Noirin o sullivan when half way down there is a picture of that knob Kelly.
@Derek Foran:
Knob……………………could not have put it any better.
@Derek Foran: There was a report that her husband stitched up the Whistleblower is this true? If so should be gone already?
And on it goes, days, weeks, months turn into years, controversy, scandal, criminality, chaos, in our Police force. Management refuse to step down, govt unwilling or unable to force them to do so. Does anyone realize the damage done to public confidence and our international reputation from all of this ?
@Patrick James Walsh: The government don’t represent us, the gardai are incompetent, ( the health services kind of work), the education system destroys imagination (ie the very thing that’s going to determine one’s employability in the future economy) One has to wonder… What actually is the point of having a government if they are just holding back society?
Why can’t we have burning at the Stake
Evisaration, disemboweling,
It was good enough for the heretic s
@Stouts O Shea:
Lets have a Poll on whether Noirin should remain as Commissioner.
Go on Uplift
@Stouts O Shea: Environmental Issues.
How can the head of the gardai, the organisation responsible for upholding law and order, blatantly lying to a committee of an Dáil Éireann, be acceptable to the responsible Minister??
Francis Fitzgerald, you have lost all credibility and control of the Gardai, you must stand down before you bring the entire government down.
@Stouts O Shea: Send her to sing in Eurovision…
As the song she is singing now seems to work for her lol.
She was told and chose instead to ignore the corruption/mismanagement of tax payers money.
Due to her unusual perception of time, the PAC interview will only last a few microseconds.
Incompetents answering to incompetents!
@Adrian: Clare Daly TD got leaked on too as a drunk driver and turns out she wasn’t drunk at all.
The real criminals are wearing uniforms and polecing the country what a disaster of a country. We should never leave the EUat least they can keep some kind of control over the government maybe we should just let them take over the Gardai.
Kenny took damage when he sacked Justice Minister Shatter and Commissioner Callinan – no matter WHAT – he has neither the inclination nor balls to sack the current two muppets Fitzgerald and O’Sullivan. Just in case O’Sullivan tires of taking the blame for the Gardai corruption, scandals, deceit etc. etc. and does what any honourable person in any other country would have done long ago, I reckon Kenny and his heavies have threatened O’Sullivan her pension, reputation (feel free to laugh here) will be gone. That’s the only thing I can think of to explain why she’s still there. She probably has files of juicy stuff on Kenny et al too so they’re both pointing guns at each other. Perfect storm of corruption!
Good job an post..got that brown envelope delivered ahead of schedule..
Banana Republic, Septic Isle
Screamin’ in the sufferin’ sea, sounds like cryin’
Everywhere I go, yeah everywhere I see
The black and blue uniforms, Police and Priests (1980)
Christina Finn please take this as a compliment-you’re a dead ringer for the mona Lisa.
have your say