Whistleblowers must co-operate

THAT controversies related to the administration of justice, and specifically to the operation of An Garda Siochana, continue to reverberate two years after the forced retirement of a Garda Commissioner, the resignation of a Minister for Justice, the removal of a Garda confidential recipient and the sideways transfer of a secretary general of the Department of Justice not only forcefully underlines how urgent reform of the Garda was in the first place, but also raises serious questions as to the extent agreed reforms have been embraced. Those questions must be answered and doubts dispelled.

An Garda Siochana has stood this country in good stead since its foundation, throughout some of the most turbulent times any nation was likely to experience, not least throughout three decades when the Garda stood between the security of the State and the terrorist activities of the Provisional IRA, with many police officers paying the ultimate price with their lives. In more recent times, such threats have been shown not to have gone away. In the past three years two officers have been killed in the line of duty facing down threats from individuals with known links to dissident terrorists.

The former Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan and his successor, Noirin O’Sullivan were formed as police officers in the era of the Troubles when hard policing was required, which in itself tended to foster a culture of loyalty between officers which was not only required but could be said to be essential to effective policing and the development of a police force necessary to meet the challenges as presented uniquely here compared to mainland Europe. No apology should be made for this. An Garda Siochana met those challenges head on while many of its now critics were in short pants, unaware of, or too young to recall the threat that was thrown down to the security of the State.

However, that culture of loyalty has now become a large part of a problem which has rendered the Garda virtually dysfunctional and has placed at risk its authority with and the respect of the public. When a police force, such as An Garda Siochana, becomes blinded by loyalty to each other above all else — seemingly even above the public it so solemnly and sincerely declares to serve and protect with fairness, integrity, regard for human rights, diligence and impartiality, upholding the constitution and the law, and according equal rights to all people — then reform of the Garda becomes even more urgent and must be undertaken for the good of the force itself and the greater good of society in general.

Those Garda whistleblowers, whether identified or not, have done the State some service, particularly those officers who have come forward and whose complaints of wrongdoing have been validated. The latest allegations, which have been submitted under protected disclosure to the Minister for Justice, are reported to be disturbing in the extreme, in that if validated, they point to a form of loyalty within the Garda not only blinded, but twisted and sinister in a manner which will surely do deep if not lasting damage to An Garda Siochana. It is essential therefore that these allegations are examined in full and through whatever investigatory method is required. In that regard, the whistleblowers themselves, having honourably highlighted these latest issues, have a duty to participate in that investigation to fully honour their solemn declaration on their appointment to An Garda Siochana. Whatever their concerns borne of experience, that duty must be honoured without pre-condition and with the full support of all authorities concerned with the administration of justice.