Shatter loses bid to quash aspects of Guerin report
Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter has failed in a High Court bid to quash parts of the Guerin Report into the handling of allegations by garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.
Mr Shatter resigned after its publication last year and claimed in court he was deprived of fair procedures in the compilation of the report.
The court was highly critical of allegations of bias against Mr Guerin, which the former Minister subsequently withdrew.
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Mr Shatter claimed he had been given no opportunity to respond to criticisms and adverse conclusions made against him.
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Shatter slams Guerin Report
He claimed there had been an absence of fair procedures on the part of Mr Guerin, and that Mr Guerin should have interviewed him before reaching conclusions on a range of issues.
Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, in dismissing Mr Shatter's application, ruled that Mr Guerin was required to express a view and he did so. He said the report was in the nature of an expert opinion and so did not attract the requirements of natural justice – but even if it did, he found there was no denial of fair procedure to Mr Shatter.
He said the former Minister will have an opportunity to tell his side of the story to the Commission of Investigation set up in the wake of the Guerin report.
Mr Shatter said he would now reflect on the judgement.
