Harris: No action on Killarney until GSOC report
GARDA Commissioner Drew Harris will await a final report from the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) on serious allegations regarding liquor-licensing law breaches in Killarney.
He met with senior members of GSOC last week to discuss the allegations, and he will await a final report from the independent body before deciding any internal steps to take in regard to the allegations.
Speaking outside the Kerry Joint Policing Committee (JPC) at Kerry County Council HQ last Friday, Commissioner Harris said he is aware of the allegations but could not comment on them.
“Allegations have surfaced in the media in recent days in respect of this, and I am very much aware that GSOC are mandated properly to take on this investigation and are doing so,” he said.
“I was informed of that fact when I met with very senior officials of GSOC, so it would be inappropriate for me to comment on specific allegations made by an individual.
“When such allegations are made, whatever they are, and I can’t go into specifics, we have an Independent Ombudsman who investigates these matters and will come to their own findings and issue a report, and from that I will consider what steps I will have to take internally within the organisation,” he added.
Chief Superintendent of the Kerry Division, Eileen Foster, further declined to comment but said she understood that there is public disquiet following the allegations.
She told the meeting that in 2019, 637 inspections were carried out in Killarney with 17 offences detected.
A total of 1,195 exemptions were applied for.
The allegations, which date back to a number of years ago, first appeared in online blog, authored by a person claiming to be a Garda ‘whistleblower’. He alleges he was put through ‘a living hell’ after he attempted to raise alleged irregularities in liquor-licensing laws in Kerry.
The claims made in the blog include irregularities in recording licensing breaches to make it look as if certain publicans had not breached licensing laws when they had done so. The writer also claims that these alleged anomalies were not corrected.
Claims were also made that some licensed premises operated after-hours without exemptions which led to a huge loss to the exchequer, and that some hotels operating in Killarney charged for exemptions at weddings but did not actually apply for these exemptions.
It is also alleged that a number of premises in the town operated without correct licences.
The whistleblower’s most recent blog published this week, the third instalment, states that he intends to resign from the force in 14 days.
He is currently on sick leave from An Garda Siochána and is now pleading with Commissioner Drew Harris to let him retire.
He claims that he has been requested to remain in the force until the investigation is complete.
Senator Paul Coghlan told the JPC that he been ‘ bombarded’ and ‘pestered’ since the allegations came to light. He said it was ‘ hard to believe’ that such events, as alleged, may have taken place.
“It is reminiscent of the Wild West,” he said.
He added that the public believes “there is truth in these allegations”.
TD John Brassil told the JPC there was ‘great concern’ about these matters.
Commissioner Harris moved to reassure the public that he has full confidence in gardaí in Killarney in relations to carrying out their duties.
Commissioner Harris said who could assist GSOC should contact the investigating body.
A number of councillors told the JPC that they had full faith in the garda force in Killarney following the allegations.