The Fine Gael MEP who helped expose corruption among gardai in Co Donegal has condemned the transfer of five officers named in a damning report on the force in the border county.
The North West MEP and senator Jim Higgins said the decision by Garda Headquarters to transfer to Dublin of five rank-and-file officers involved in the Morris Tribunal report was bizarre and incredible.
Senator Higgins said the five officers should have been suspended pending the examination of the file sent by Justice Frederick to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He said the move was all the more shocking following the controversy caused earlier this week over the retirement full pension of Supt Joe Shelley and Det Supt John McGinley who strongly condemned by the second Morris report into alleged wrongdoing in the Donegal region.
The report found members of the force had attempted to frame two men for murder despite there being little evidence to suggest that cattle dealer had died in 1996 form anything other than a hit-and-run.
It also found that the leadership in the investigation into Mr Barron’s death was "utterly negligent in the highest degree" and that Det Supt Shelley and Det Supt McGinley "share in various degrees the burden or fault".
Mr Higgins today said the Minister for Justice and Garda Headquarters must bear some responsibility for the culture within the Garda which allowed the events in Donegal occur.
He said: "The culture of long-fingering and whistling past the graveyard is still alive and well at Garda HQ level and is fully supported by Justice Minister, Michael McDowell.
"Instead of being transferred with full salary rights, the five Gardai should have been suspended pending the examination of the file sent by Morris to the DPP.
"I find this incredible decision by Garda HQ and supported by Minister McDowell to transfer the five Gardai bizarre in the extreme. It is in total contempt for the Morris Tribunal findings."
Sinn Fein spokesperson on justice, Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy's decision added "insult to injury".
"All those gardaí named in the Morris Report should be suspended from duty immediately and not be allowed to resign on full pension or merely transferred into different positions," he said.
He said Commissioner Conroy’s "idea of punishment ... adds to the serious concerns many members of the public have about his suitability for the role".