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Guerin Report

'Is someone afraid of the truth? Because frontline gardaí aren't'

The terms of reference for an enquiry into allegations of Garda malpractice in Cavan will be published today.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL today publish the terms of reference for an enquiry into allegations of Garda malpractice in Cavan between 2007 and 2010.

It is expected that the inquiry will follow the recommendations of the Guerin Report, which found that allegations by Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe required further investigation.

James Morrisroe of the Garda Representative Association said on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that front-line gardaí are happy with the inquiry.

“Nobody was vindicated by the Guerin Report. Sean Guerin himself recognises that he was hamstrung by the short timeframe he had to compile the report.

“People have been in the media making all sorts of allegations…they’re not facts, they’re allegations by one party. Let the commission get underway.”

Morrisroe refrained from naming McCabe explicitly, but said that gardaí were not afraid of the truth.

“This should have been set up seven and a half months ago.

“Why the long lead in? Is somebody afraid of the truth here? Because garda frontline members certainly aren’t.”

He said that the GRA members would co-operate with the inquiry.

Guerin Report

The Guerin Report, which led to the resignation of then Justice Minister Alan Shatter, painted a damning picture of Bailieboro Garda Station.

In one section, it looks at the handling of the case of Cavan woman Mary Lynch, who was viciously assaulted by taxi passenger Jerry McGrath in 2007.

Guerin says that the evidence supports Maurice McCabe’s assertion that an unnamed Garda knew of serious crimes involving McGrath, but did nothing.

While on bail for the Cavan incident, McGrath attempted to kidnap a five-year-old girl from her bed. While on bail for that crime, he would murder Sylvia Roche-Kelly.

Read: Bailieboro: a case study of a dysfunctional Garda district

Breaking down the Guerin report: The complaints, the cases, the mistakes>

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