Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Saturday 30 September 2023 Dublin: 15°C
Niall Carson/PA Former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.
# answers
White: The sooner we know what happened with Callinan's resignation, the better
White was speaking at the Labour leadership hustings in Dublin this evening.

JUNIOR MINISTER ALEX White has said this evening that gaps in knowledge about what happened the day Martin Callinan was visited by the Justice Department’s Secretary General need to be filled, as this a meeting is thought to have led to the former Garda Commissioner’s resignation.

Brian Purcell was sent by the Taoiseach to Callinan’s house on the night of 21 March and this has created speculation that he was sent there to essentially sack the commissioner on behalf of Kenny.

The General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association, PJ Stone, in April accused the government of forcing Callinan’s resignation ‘on a political whim’. White himself has also allegedly implied that Kenny fired the former commissioner, in a letter to Labour party members.

Speaking today, he said “there are gaps in our knowledge of what occurred that day and I think the sooner we know precisely what happened, the better for all of us”.

However he pointed out that the Taoiseach, “in fairness to him, has indicated his intention to give an account of what occurred on that occasion” to Judge Niall Fennelly, who is tasked with conducting the inquiry into the taping controversy and events surrounding Callinan’s resignation.

Also speaking at the Labour leadership hustings in Dublin this evening, Joan Burton said “we’ve been told by the Taoiseach and told by the Commissioner himself about his resignation”.

“There is a judge appointed now to fully inquire into all of the matters – probably one of the most extensive terms I’ve reference I’ve seen in relation to any inquiry and I’m sure the judge will do his job with great diligence and great exactitude and the Taoiseach has undertaken to make himself available to those inquiries,” she added.

Read: Alex White thinks Enda Kenny fired the Garda Commissioner… maybe>

Read: Brian Purcell appears before the Justice Committee, but refuses to answer questions about Callinan>

Read: PJ Stone says Callinan was sacked by government on ‘political whim’>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
29
    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.