Garda auditor: ‘I can’t get account access’

SENIOR Garda auditor Niall Kelly has written to the Public Accounts Committee outlining how he has not been given access to some accounts associated with the Templemore Garda Training College.

He has also told the Dáil committee that he is set to launch two new probes into the college after completing two audits which have now been sent to the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Mr Kelly, head of internal audit in the gardaí, wrote to the PAC on July 5 to say his efforts to probe St Raphael’s Garda Credit Union accounts had been frustrated.

‘Despite numerous requests I have not been able to fully access two accounts at St Raphael Credit Union in Templemore and I have not been able to access at least one other account held at St Raphael’s Credit Union, Naas Road, Fox-and-Geese, Dublin 22. There may be accounts unknown to Internal Audit at this point to which public funds have been lodged,’ he said.

But in a letter written last night, Mr Kelly suggested he has since had cooperation in relation to the Templemore accounts.

‘I am still however awaiting access to at least one other St Raphael’s Account managed from Dublin,’ he wrote to the PAC.

PAC members have been meeting this week to finalise a report into possibly fraudulent financial irregularities at the college.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan is expected to appear before the committee this morning, when she will be further grilled over the controversy and the new audit.

Mr Kelly said two further audits are now in process, including an audit into investment accounts and a review of financial controls.