A Clare TD is renewing his call for the Garda Commissioner to make a formal apology to four Gardaí and a retired superintendent found not guilty of perverting the course of justice.
The Minister for Justice is being urged to launch an inquiry into the circumstances of the seven-year investigation which centred on alleged attempts to terminate tickets for road traffic offences.
The long-running trial concluded in January with the five defendants who served at stations across Clare and Limerick being found not guilty of all 39 counts of perverting the course of justice.
Beginning with a probe into then Superintendent Eamonn O’Neill, it was alleged that prosecuting gardaí were instructed to “square” or stop the issuing of a ticket for various road traffic offences.
Four serving gardaí were defendants in the case in addition to the retired superintendent and roughly 130 people, including other members of An Garda Síochána, were interviewed by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
After the five were found not guilty on all counts in late January, Taoiseach Micheál Martin admitted in the Dáil that the lengthy trial had a “severe negative impact” on the careers and morale of those involved.
Tipperary North Labour TD Alan Kelly has now called for a formal inquiry into the investigation but claims this is unlikely to materialise.
Responding to Deputy Kelly on this matter in the Dáil, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan says the acquitted aren’t entitled to any such procedure.
The Garda Representative Association has branded the investigation a “witch hunt” while many politicians has levelled heavy criticism at the manner in which it was conducted.
Meelick Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe insists Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly should apologise to all whose careers and wellbeing have been affected.
Listen to the full interview here
