Martin says detail on Callinan ‘buried for political reasons’

The Fianna Fáil leader has demanded a Dáil statement from the Taoiseach on the retirement of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.

Micheál Martin told Enda Kenny that the Dáil was not getting the full story. "There is an extraordinary silence on a very substantive question and issue, namely the removal of a garda commissioner,'' he added.

Mr Martin said that the issue which caused Mr Kenny such anxiety, the taping of telephone calls to Garda stations, had been brought to the attention of the department and the then minister some weeks earlier by the then commissioner.

The Fianna Fáil leader was speaking at Opposition leaders' questions in the Dáil, in advance the appearance later today by the Secretary General of the Department of Justice Brian Purcell before the Oireachtas justice committee. Mr Martin said he wanted to know what transpired at the meeting between Mr Kenny, Mr Purcell and former minister Alan Shatter, before Mr Purcell visited Mr Callinan at his home at the Taoiseach's request.

“This has been buried for political reasons,’’ he added.

Mr Kenny said it was not a case of Mr Callinan being told the Taoiseach was "full of anxiety''. He added that what was brought to his attention had gone on for 30 years and there was knowledge of tapes and recordings in Garda stations all over the country and a case in west Cork where a woman was murdered.

“I was informed of the seriousness of this matter, which was new to me and the country,’’ he added. He said he did not have the authority to sack anybody, but he did have a responsibility to ensure that the garda commissioner of the day was aware of what he as Taoiseach had been appraised of.

“My request was that the commissioner would be fully appraised of the anxieties and concerns arising from the information given to me,’’ he added.

Mr Kenny said he would be complying with a request to respond to the commission investigating the issue. He would provide a full and comprehensive response to the query, he added.