Garda head of finances accuses internal auditor of defamation

The Garda head of finance has accused the force's internal auditor of defaming him in a report on financial irregularities at Templemore Garda training college.

Correspondence released to the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) showed a series of exchanges between Michael Culhane and auditor Niall Kelly.

Mr Culhane wrote to Mr Kelly in February 2017 questioning aspects of Mr Kelly’s interim report on the irregularities, which was released a month later.

The documents show Mr Culhane alleged Mr Kelly “deliberately and falsely created the defamatory impression” that he (Mr Culhane) conspired with the college management in the financial mismanagement practices and concealed evidence from the audit committee.

Miriam Lord: Mary Lou fires opening salvo in latest round of ‘Utility Wars’

---

Stormont talks deadlocked over Irish language Act

---

Waste companies’ profits will remain unknown because most registered offshore

---

Ireland joins France, Germany and Bulgaria in banning fracking

---

“Unless this defamatory construct is withdrawn I am putting you on notice that I am reserving my right to issue legal proceedings against you for defaming my character and professional reputation.”

Mr Kelly released an interim report in March 2017 outlining how the garda college had 50 bank accounts, was renting out land it did not own and fitted out privately owned properties.

The PAC is tasked with examining the mismanagement of money and whether the Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan acted appropriately when in receipt of information on this subject.

Contradictions

The Garda head of legal affairs Ken Ruane has contradicted Ms O'Sullivan's testimony to the PAC and has written to the committee to raise objection to Ms O'Sullivan's evidence in relation to financial irregularities at Templemore.

He has taken issue with a number of statements made by the Commissioner at the PAC meeting last week including a claim by Ms O’Sullivan that Mr Ruane had not suffered professionally.

Mr Ruane, who is a senior civilian member of the force, said documentation provided to the committee had proven aspects of his role were taken from him including discipline and professional development.

Additional layers were created and his reporting structures to the Garda Commissioner changed, he added.

The correspondence also questions a claim made by the Commissioner that she made all “relevant parties” aware of the allegations on financial mismanagement at the college when she first learned of them in July 2015.

Mr Ruane said he cannot accept and does not agree with this statement. The Minister for Justice and the internal audit unit in the gardaí were not informed until March 2016 of the extent of the financial mismanagement.

The head of legal affairs also informed the Oireachtas committee Ms O’Sullivan was maintaining privilege over legal advice given to her. He states the Commissioner wrote to him on May 30th stressing her desire to retain that position.

The PAC had asked Mr Ruane to clarify a number of points which were the source of contradiction with the Commissioner.

Ms O'Sullivan is expected to respond on Thursday. The head of Garda human resources, John Barrett, is also due to send the committee correspondence on Thursday, which is expected will contradict the Commissioner's evidence too.