Government and Opposition clash over contents of whistleblower dossier

The Coalition and Fianna Fáil have become embroiled in a heated row over the dossier of serious allegations of Garda malpractice which Taoiseach Enda Kenny has in his possession.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said yesterday the dossier was "incomplete" and that appendices referred to in the material had not been handed over by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who received the document from a Garda whistleblower.

A spokesman for Mr Martin said last night that Mr Gilmore's assertion was a "red herring" and indicated the Government was not treating the material with the urgency and seriousness that would be expected.

The dossier is comprised of a “sample of 10 serious cases” of alleged negligence and malpractice by gardaí in very serious cases including murder, rape and serious assault.

It was handed over to Mr Martin by Garda whistleblower Garda Sgt Maurice McCabe last week. Mr Martin subsequently forwarded the entire dossier to the office of Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Officials in the Taoiseach's office have been reviewing and examining the material – and the underlying allegations – since then. On Saturday, Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore had a discussion on the issue and it is expected to dominate discussions at tomorrow's Cabinet meeting.

However, as of last night, no senior figure within Government was in a position to say if the review would be complete by tomorrow, or indeed, this week. It was suggested that the possible emergence of additional information may push it back.

In Mullingar yesterday, following a Labour European election convention, the Tánaiste said the Taoiseach had read the material Mr Martin supplied to him and was taking the allegations seriously.

However, he added: “The material is incomplete. The document refers to a number of appendices and reports which were not supplied with the original material, so he has asked Micheál Martin to supply that material and any other material that he may have.

“He will, of course, be taking advice on it. It is something that is being addressed as a matter of urgency.”

Mr Gilmore also said it was much too early to make any call on the need for a further inquiry into the matter. “We have to see what is in the additional material. There is some additional material that needs to be supplied.”

Fianna Fáil quickly responded last night to say there was no additional information. The party said it had passed on all the information Mr Martin had received. It said that the only appendix was a reference to a record on the Pulse system but Mr Martin’s spokesman asserted that it made no material difference.

“It does not add or take away from the material or its import, and does not add anything to what the Taoiseach already has in his possession,” said the spokesman.

Separately, the Department of Justice would not divulge any information on a separate review that has been ordered by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.

The Irish Times submitted a series of questions to the Department about its review of all the contacts between Garda Sgt McCabe on the one hand, and Mr Shatter and his officials on the other. The Department's only response was the review was ongoing.

Garda Sgt McCabe has taken issue with an assertion made in the Dáil by Mr Shatter that he could have co-operated with Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahoney's inquiry into the fixed penalty points system but had refused to do so. Correspondence obtained by RTÉ suggests that it was Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan who advised Mr Shatter that Garda Sgt McCabe was afforded the opportunity.

There have been calls for Mr Shatter to apologise and correct the record on this matter. His Labour ministerial colleague Pat Rabbitte said on Friday Mr Shatter may have been mistaken on this point. However, it is understood that Mr Shatter may stand over his contention and will not apologise.