I thought Callinan was principled... how wrong I was

WHEN Martin Callinan was appointed as Garda commissioner, I remember thinking it was a positive development. For reasons that I can’t quite recall now, he struck me as a progressive and principled figure. How wrong can you be.

It is difficult to see how Mr Callinan could have been given a more severe kicking than the one he received in the Disclosures Tribunal report last week. Given that he clearly embodies everything that is wrong with the culture of policing in this country, though, it was a richly deserved kicking.

According to at least one report yesterday, he could now be landed with the cost of civil proceedings that arise out of the tribunal’s findings. We’re told that the State may not indemnify him against future actions. That’s what should happen, of course, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

Meanwhile, his successor at Garda HQ, Nóirín O’Sullivan, was largely given a clean bill of health in the report. But that doesn’t change my view that she should never have been appointed to the job in the first place.

The bottom line is that Ms O’Sullivan was an integral part of the outgoing regime. Given the circumstances under which Mr Callinan stepped aside, I remain astonished that she was even considered as his replacement.

Frankly, I have no idea whether Drew Harris will turn out to be a good choice as Commissioner.

But I do know that the top brass in An Garda Síochána had it their own way for far too long.