‘Ming’ Flanagan claims Garda surveillance during GSoc visit

Independent TD Luke “Ming” Flanagan claimed he and two Garda whistleblowers were put under Garda surveillance today when they went to the offices of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

He told the Dáil they went to GSoc with serious allegations of Garda corruption in the national drugs squad, but he gave no details of the claims.

In his first contribution to the House on leaders’ questions, Mr Flanagan said a new whistleblower, who is a serving garda, was “terrified” to bring forward allegations publicly, and that former garda whistleblower John Wilson had brought them.

The TD said they went with the allegations to the GSoc offices and were in a cafe close by when they noticed an unmarked Garda car.

Mr Flanagan said Mr Wilson left the cafe and walked down the road and the car followed him. He said the whistleblower who was “terrified” to come forward was left “quivering” after today’s surveillance.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he knew nothing of the details of the allegations but offered to deal with them with “confidentiality” if Mr Flanagan wanted to give him the documentation he had.

The Independent TD, however, accused Mr Kenny of making a joke about the issue after the Taoiseach said the car might not have been following him at all.

Mr Flanagan claimed: “You’re a disgrace”.

But the Taoiseach rejected the claim. He said he would deal with the allegations if Mr Flanagan proffered them and he insisted whistleblowers were protected under legislation.