Varadkar warns against ‘kangaroo courts’ in Garda debacle

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he does not believe in "summary justice and kangaroo courts" as he rejected a call by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald to remove Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan from her position.

During sharp exchanges Mr Varadkar said Ms McDonald was from a tradition that was “okay” about such courts but he was not.

The Taoiseach made the comments during leaders’ questions as he highlighted the investigations under way into An Garda Síochána.

He said the Public Accounts Committee is currently carrying out an investigation. GSoc (the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission) had launched an investigation into alleged fraud in accounts in Templemore, the Garda Training College and the Charleton tribunal was under way.

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Ms McDonald accused Mr Varadkar of "treading the well-worn path of Enda Kenny, a master of evasion, a man who brought not taking decisions in respect of Garda reform to a higher level".

She said Ms O’Sullivan failed to inform the Minister of the serious allegations of financial irregularities in Templemore and she said the Commissioner wrote to the Comptroller & Auditor General and misled him.

Ms McDonald said “there is no dispute on those two facts” and on the basis of those established facts “the Commissioner has to go to”.

She said accountability had to start at the top. “You as head of Government have to come off the fence”. Anything short of that “means that you are simply talking down the clock”.

Mr Varadkar insisted: “I’m not on the fence. I’ve confidence in the Garda Commissioner as does the Government. That’s not being on the fence.”

He wanted the public to have confidence in the Garda. He said trust and confidence had been strained.

Ireland does not have a police force as in other countries who base their authority on their arms rather than their relationship with the community.

He said there had to be a thorough investigation of all the allegations and he was not happy with the pace of reform in the gardaí. It was important to accelerate reforms to restore confidence.

Rounding on Ms McDonald he said it was her contention that they should bypass three investigations - the tribunal, GSoc and the PAC.

“I don’t believe in summary justice and kangaroo courts,” he said. “I do appreciate you come from a political tradition that is okay about that but mine is not.”