The Taoiseach, the nearly judge and a ‘forgotten’ knees-up for Kenny backers

MINISTER Shane Ross has been accused of a ‘deafening silence’ as Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s government made a post-dated appointment of an ex-Fine Gael councillor who attended a 2016 eve of poll ‘thank you’ party for supporters of Enda Kenny.

In one of the last acts of Enda Kenny’s premiership, barrister Eoin Garavan was proposed to take a position on the District Court when it becomes vacant in October. He is the fourth judge from the Taoiseach’s constituency that has been appointed since 2011, who have had direct links or family ties to Fine Gael.

News of Mr Garavan’s appointment came ahead of next week’s publication of proposed legislation heralding long-awaited reform of judicial appointments which has been pushed for by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, who has been outspoken on political patronage in the judiciary.

Mr Garavan – who was a Fine Gael town councillor between 1999 and 2004 – this week told the MoS that he couldn’t remember if he had attended a small supper party hosted by the Taoiseach at the Lough Lannagh resort in Castlebar, Co. Mayo on the eve of last year’s general election.

But he also told the MoS that he had not been involved with Fine Gael for eight years, and had not spoken to Mr Kenny for a similar period.

The MoS has confirmed however that he met Mr Kenny on two occasions in 2011 – and that he had participated in a tight Fine Gael selection convention before the 2014 local elections, seconding the nomination of former town councillor Brendan Heneghan.

He was also at a supper party on the eve of last year’s general election, put on to say thanks to those who had canvassed for Mr Kenny, according to one attendee who confirmed Mr Garavan’s attendance.

‘It was characterised as a “thank you” for all of Kenny’s supporters, who had kept his constituency campaign going while he was touring the country on the national campaign trail,’ the source said.

‘There was probably around 100 people in attendance. They had something to eat and then Kenny began to circulate, stopping a while at each table to talk to his supporters.

‘There was a microphone provided and Kenny gave a good speech, thanking those present for their help and acknowledging that they had carried the can for him in Mayo while he fought the campaign around the country.

‘He did what he’s best at during his speech – referring to individuals present and bringing people into what he was saying.

‘Eoin Garavan was at the event throughout and nobody would wonder at that, because he’s a great supporter of Kenny and the party. He mingled with some of the local top brass initially – some councillors and close supporters. Then he got some food and took a seat at one of the tables.’

Asked by the Mail on Sunday this week why he had attended the party, Mr Garavan said he didn’t recall being there.

‘I don’t remember that event,’ he said.

Told that a witness had seen him there, he said: ‘If someone says that, I won’t disagree with them. If I was there, I was there. I’d have to check my diary.

‘If I was there and I suppose I could have been, I genuinely don’t remember.’

Mr Garavan – who is the son of former District Court judge the late John Garavan – also said he had ‘had nothing to do with Fine Gael for at least eight years’.

‘I haven’t been involved with Fine Gael for at least eight years now. I stepped away from the party.

‘I walked away from Fine Gael, I didn’t agree with some things.’

However records show that in fact Mr Garavan seconded a former mayor of Castlebar in a Fine Gael selection conference in 2013. Only party members can take part in this process.

Brendan Heneghan, the former councillor whom Mr Garavan supported, confirmed the event.

‘Yes Eoin did second me, but that’s three years ago. He might

‘Garavan was there – he’s a Kenny supporter’

have been a member of the party but not involved.’

Mr Garavan also told the MoS he hadn’t spoken to Mr Kenny in eight years when in fact he was photoa graphed with him twice in 2011.

‘I see what you’re getting at but I’m not a Fine Gael man,’ he told the MoS. ‘I’ve worked in Mayo, Galway and Dublin for the past 27 years as barrister and I like to think my record got me the job. I haven’t time for politics.

‘I applied many years ago for this job too. That’s the way it is, you fill in the form and you wait full of hope. Nobody was more surprised than me when the announcement was made last Tuesday. I feel very lucky to be appointed.’ Former councillor Heneghan was also at the Lough Lannagh event last year. Asked if Mr Garavan was there, he said he didn’t recall.

‘I don’t remember Eoin being at it but even if he was isn’t he entitled? What’s wrong with that?’ he said.

Mr Garavan’s appointment as a District Court judge was post-dated to begin next October.

This was ‘very unusual’, a senior member of the Law Library said.

‘Usually when a judge is appointed, the notice appears in the Irish Times and they come in to the Law Library the next day to hand in their wig and gown and that’s the last we see of them.’

Asked for a comment on these details, a spokesman for Minister Ross said they would respond, but failed to do so.

Both Fine Gael leadership contenders, Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar, were asked for comment.

A spokesman for Minister Coveney said: ‘The appointment was in line with normal appointment procedures. The Minister has no further comment to make.’

Minister Varadkar – who is odds on favourite to be the next Taoiseach – was unable to even provide such a response.

The Taoiseach’s office redirected the query – about a meeting organised by Mr Kenny in his own constituency – to the Department of Justice, who did not have any direct or indirect role in organising the eve-of-poll event.

Reacting to the appointment, Fianna Fáil’s Niall Collins said: ‘There’s a deafening silence coming from Shane Ross in relation to this appointment, as we were led to believe that no appointments could be made until Shane Ross’s proposals were enacted.’

Fine Gael has faced controversy over the appointment of judges over the past six years.

In 2011, Patrick Durcan, a fourtime election running mate of Mr Kenny and a former party election agent, was appointed a District Court judge.

In 2015, a former Fine Gael director of local elections was also appointed a Circuit Court judge.

Brian O’Callaghan had served as a Fine Gael director of elections in Galway in the 2014 local elections.

Two brothers of Fine Gael’s former Mayo constituency director of elections, Pat O’Connor, have also been appointed judges – Mr Justice Tony O’Connor to the High Court in 2015 and Mr John O’Connor to the District Court judge in 2012.

‘Deafening silence coming from Shane Ross’