Sir, – Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan's explanation ("Cabinet agrees to overhaul penalty points regime", front Page, March 13th) for his use of the term "disgusting" to describe the actions of those he described as "so-called whistleblowers" in his evidence to the Public Accounts Committee is bordering on risible.
Let us recall the commissioner’s actual words, ie it was “quite disgusting” that two people out of a force of 13,000 people were making “extraordinary serious allegations” and there was not “a whisper” from elsewhere in the force of corruption or malpractice.
Mr Callinan now wants us to believe that this use of the term “disgusting” related to a possible technical breach of data protection rules.
As for the commissioner describing the whistle blowers’ allegations as “extraordinary”, the Garda Inspectorate report confirms that those allegations were (a) largely factual and (b) indeed extraordinary, but perhaps not “extraordinary” in the way that the commissioner envisaged.
As for the commissioner claiming that there was “not a whisper” from elsewhere in the force of corruption or malpractice, that arrogant and self-serving statement can now only be treated with the contempt it deserves.
Mr Callinan’s position is untenable and I suspect he knows it. He demonstrated barely concealed anger and contempt for a colleague and a former colleague who did the whole nation a service in bringing to light malpractice that was clearly rife in Garda districts throughout Ireland and that led to quite serious anomalies in the administration of justice, perhaps over a long period of years.
Sgt McCabe and retired garda John Wilson acted selflessly and they deserve a nation’s grateful thanks, something that Enda Kenny should put on the Dáil record without any further delay. – Yours, etc,
FERGAL QUINN,
Eton Place,
London.
Sir, – The report of the Garda Inspectorate on the penalty points controversy comes across as most incisive and unambiguous in its findings. Whatever the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner may say, it is clear that this report vindicates Sgt McCabe and former garda John Wilson, whose honour and integrity have been so grievously impugned by Mr Shatter and Mr Callinan. Not alone should these whistleblowers, who have suffered so much as a result of their patriotic actions, be given public apologies by their detractors, but they should receive some type of reparation from the State for the hurt and distress which they and their families have undoubtedly suffered in doing a great service to their country. The outrageous manner in which they were treated by the Minister and the commissioner was surely “disgusting”. – Yours, etc,
GEAROID KILGALLEN,
Crosthwaite Park South,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – According to the commissioner, only two gardaí complained about malpractice. Thousands did not. Disgusting? – Yours, etc,
PETER KENNY,
Hillside Drive,
Dublin 14.