Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Oireachtas TV
Confidential recipient

"I have no idea what he was thinking": Shatter on Confidential Recipient's comments

The Minister told the Dáil today that he was ‘utterly astonished’ by Oliver Connolly’s alleged comments.

MINISTER FOR JUSTICE Alan Shatter has said he finds the comments allegedly made by the former Confidential Recipient in An Garda Síochána to be a “complete mystery”.

Speaking in the Dáil this morning, Alan Shatter said he has “no idea what Mr Connolly was thinking”.

An alleged transcript of a conversation between Oliver Connolly and garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe, which was read into the Dáil record earlier this month, detailed comments about the Minister.

Connolly is alleged to have told McCabe: “I’ll tell you something, Maurice, and this is just personal advice to you, if Shatter thinks you’re screwing him, you’re finished.”

Answering questions today about why he fired Connolly, Shatter reiterated that he believed his position was “untenable” as he did not “repudiate” the remarks.

“To be quite frank with you, I am utterly astonished at some of the commentary in the public arena,” Shatter said, responding to a question from Sinn Féin’s Pádraig MacLochlainn.

“I don’t understand why he conducted himself in that way.”

He added that Connolly had a reputation for being a sound lawyer and sound mediator.

“It comes as much of a surprise and mystery to me as I’m sure it does to others. I cannot explain this. I can only say it was an approach that was untenable in the context of the important role.”

The government is now looking to hire an interim Confidential Recipient. Shatter has confirmed that this will be a retired judge and he will work with the Attorney General on the recruitment process.

In the long term, the system will change to allow gardaí bring their suspicions of misconduct straight to GSOC.

Read: TD claims garda was warned last whistleblower was “now washing cars in Navan”

Your Voice
Readers Comments
63
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.