Gardai ‘can’t be trusted’ to take accurate reports
Whistleblower calls for review after ‘shocking’ Jobstown trial
GARDA whistleblower John Wilson yesterday said the force “can’t be trusted” to take statements that are not recorded following the Jobstown trial.
Mr Wilson, who served as a garda for more than 30 years, criticised the evidence given by gardai in the case after the six accused were acquitted.
The men, including Solidarity Party leader Paul Murphy, were cleared on charges of false imprisonment against former Tanaiste Joan Burton after the 10-week trial concluded on Thursday.
Mr Wilson also claimed ex-taoiseach Enda Kenny’s description of the events of the protest as “kidnapping” had “focused the minds” of senior gardai.
He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “The quality of some of the Garda evidence was truly shocking.
“I can say that safeguards will have to be introduced into the future.
“I’m proposing that all statements made by members of An Garda Siochana, and taken by An Garda Siochana, should from now on be audio-visually recorded.
“It gives me no great joy or pleasure to say that. I was truly concerned about what transpired during that trial.”
Mr Wilson added he knew from experience that callers to gardai are
often brushed off and ignored – unless it was the local TD.
He said: “That’s the way it operates. When Enda Kenny used the word kidnapping to describe the events that transpired in Jobstown in November 2014, I have no doubt that comment focused the minds of the senior gardai.”
Mr Wilson stopped short of calling for a public inquiry but said a review of the investigation process was vital.
Minister of State Finian Mcgrath told RTE’S Claire Byrne he had concerns about how “sections of the arms of the State were used in relation to early morning visits, raids”. Mr Mcgrath said the court reached the “correct verdict” and the false imprisonment charges “went too far”. The Solidarity Party yesterday held a rally at Dublin’s Central Bank calling for charges against 11 others involved in the protest to be dropped. Paddy Hill, of the Birmingham Six, told them “keep the protest going”. He said: “I thought the Brits were bad, I’ll tell you what, this lot over here is worse. “What the people forget in the Dail is the gardai belong to you, the public, because it’s your money that pays their wages.” james.ward@ irishmirror.ie John Wilson