Update: Garda Commissioner 'not privy to' alleged Garda whistleblower smears

Update: 3.10pm Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan has denied any knowledge of any actions to smear Garda whistleblowers, saying she "would condemn any such action".

Update: Garda Commissioner 'not privy to' alleged Garda whistleblower smears

Update: 3.10pm Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan has denied any knowledge of any actions to smear Garda whistleblowers, saying she "would condemn any such action".

An Garda Síochána have released a statement saying: "Regarding recent media reports, Commissioner O’Sullivan would like to make it clear that she was not privy to nor approved of any action designed to target any Garda employee who may have made a protected disclosure and would condemn any such action.

"It would be inappropriate for An Garda Síochána to comment on the specifics of any protected disclosure.

"In order to maintain public confidence in An Garda Síochána, we are anxious that the full content of the disclosures giving rise to the commentary be comprehensively examined at the earliest opportunity. The Commissioner wishes to re-iterate that any employees in An Garda Síochána who bring forward any concerns or issues they might have will be taken seriously and the matters examined.

"For the record, the Executive Director, Human Resources and People Development, An Garda Síochána is responsible amongst other matters for managing the welfare of all employees. The Executive Director reports any such issues and concerns in this regard to his line manager. As necessary, such matters are then brought to the attention of the Commissioner.

"At no stage did the Executive Director, Human Resources and People Development, report to the Minister for Justice. To state or infer otherwise is incorrect. The preparation of reports for the Minister for Justice under section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act is a matter for the Garda Commissioner only."

Earlier: The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says a judge could be asked to examine new claims brought forward by Garda whistleblowers.

It comes after two members of the force made claims

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In the Dáil today the Taoiseach said Frances Fitzgerald would probably not be able to discover for herself if the claims were true.

But Mr Kenny said the final decision on how to investigate the claims would be left to the Justice Minister herself.

He said: "That may well be. The appointment of a sitting judge to look at the documentation to verify the contents of that and whatever action follows from that."

Independent TD Clare Daly has told the Dáil that it is beyond time for the Garda Commissioner, Noirin O'Sullivan to go.

She said: "If the commissioner herself is not directly involved in that harrassment, do you not have a problem that her authority is so discredited that instructions that she has allegedly given for whistleblowers to be protected are being wholescale ignored across the ranks of the Garda Síochána?

"Because that is the evidence that is being presented."

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