Garda confidential recipient appointed

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has announced the appointment of the new Garda confidential recipient.

Retired District Court Judge Mr Patrick McMahon replaces Oliver Connolly who was sacked last month after Mr Shatter said he could not "unequivocally repudiate" an alleged conversation he had with a whistleblower.

The confidential recipient’s role is to receive and process Garda complaints about irregularities within the force.

The appointment was announced in a statement this evening by the Department of Justice.

"The Cabinet today agreed to the proposal of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence that he appoint Retired District Court Judge Mr Patrick McMahon to the position of confidential recipient under Regulation 6 of the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Malpractice) Regulations 2007," the statement said.

Regulations stipulate that the person appointed to the role must be a judge, former judge, barrister or solicitor or a serving or former senior civil or public servant.

The standard period for an appointment is three years but the term will, in this case, depend on the timing of the new whistleblower legislation, the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013.

An amendment being prepared to this will enable Garda whistleblowers to make reports directly to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).

Mr McMahon studied at UCD and the Incorporated Law Society. He enrolled as a solicitor in 1966 and practised from 1971 to 2006 when he was appointed to the District Court. Mr McMahon retired from the District Court in May 2013.

An amount of €12,500 per year gross is payable to the recipient.