No evidence of Garda backhanders

KILLARNEY INTERNAL INVESTIGATION FINDS NO EVIDENCE OF BRIBES

A PRELIMINARY inquiry into the allegation that a Killarney businessman may have tried to bribe gardaí has found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of any gardaí.

Last month an internal Garda investigation was launched in Killarney following claims – from a so-called, whistle-blower – that a businessman in the town had offered gifts, which could be seen as bribes, to some gardaí

At Monday’s meeting of the Kerry Joint Policing Committee, Kerry Garda Chief Superintendent Con Cadogan said a preliminary report from the senior officer tasked with investigating the claims indicated that there had been no wrongdoing on that part of any gardaí.

Chief Supt Cadogan made the remarks after Senator Paul Coghlan expressed doubts about the whistle-blower’s claims and urged senior gardaí to “kill this story dead” as, Senator Coghlan said, it was damaging garda morale.

Chief Supt Cadogan said that an interim report on the matter “doesn’t indicate” that anything untoward took place. He told the meeting he was not in a position to get into the specifics of the inquiry and could not make any further comment as the matter is still under investigation.

“As soon as this story came to our attention I immediately looked for a full investigation,” said Chief Supt Cadogan.

“It is being dealt with and we await the final report,” said Chief Supt Cadogan.

When Senator Coghlan attempted to raise the issue again– telling gardaí to “just kill this story” – Chairman of the Joint Policing Committee Cllr Niall Kelleher said the JPC was not an appropriate forum for the discussion of such matters.

“I apologise. I should have knocked this on the head when it came up earlier” said Cllr Kelleher.