Coalition has confidence in Shatter, says Burton

A document referring to “very serious issues’’ within the Garda

was passed to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter over two years ago, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin claimed in the Dáil yesterday.

Mr Martin, who produced a copy of the document in the chamber, said it had come into his possession yesterday morning.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, who was representing the Government at Opposition leaders' questions, said she did not have a copy.

Mr Martin said it was about serious matters, and had been sent to former Garda confidential recipient Oliver Connolly and Mr Shatter in January 2012. "Can I be any clearer?''

Earlier, amid heated exchanges, the Minister said she had confidence in Mr Shatter, firstly because the Government had now established an independent inquiry into the possible bugging of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) offices under an esteemed jurist.

Ms Burton said Mr Shatter had attended the Dáil Committee on Public Service Oversight for four hours on Wednesday and had indicated he was available if there were other issues to be addressed. "Do I have confidence in Mr Shatter? Yes, the Government has confidence in Mr Shatter.''

Shocking cases
Mr Martin said that on Wednesday he had handed details of a series of "shocking cases" to Taoiseach Enda Kenny involving sexual assault and other incidents. He added that Mr Connolly, who was relieved of his duties by Mr Shatter on Wednesday, would have had possession of all of that material for about two years.

He said it involved the abduction and assault of Mary Lynch, the subsequent abduction of a child in Tipperary by the same culprit, and the murder of Sylvia Roche Kelly in Limerick.

“It was sent to Mr Shatter by the confidential recipient.’’

Mr Martin said there should be a comprehensive statement from Mr Shatter on why he relieved Mr Connolly of his duties and he should apologise to Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe "for wronging him in relation to the allegation of non-co-operation''.

Very carefully
Ms Burton said material had been sent to the Taoiseach and he was examining it very carefully.

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty said they had reached the 11th day of a scandal in which Mr Shatter was at the epicentre. The information given to the Taoiseach was new to Mr Kenny but not to Mr Shatter.

A whistleblower, said Mr Doherty, had used every opportunity to bring to the attention of the appropriate authorities misconduct, malpractice and destruction of documents within the Garda regarding serious abuses up to the highest level of murder. “Mr Connolly’s is the only head that has rolled in this scandal. Why was it his head that rolled?’’

Ms Burton repeated that the Government had commissioned an independent inquiry into the possible bugging of the GSOC offices. She believed that Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil were wrong to rubbish it.