Tánaiste says Government retains confidence in Shatter

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has rejected calls from the Opposition for Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to consider his position for allegedly failing to take action to investigate claims made by a garda whistleblower.

Speaking in Brussels this afternoon, where he is attending a meeting of foreign ministers, Mr Gilmore said he did not think Mr Shatter needed to resign.

“I think very serious allegations have been made, I think the information that has been provided contains some very serious matters.

“I think that in the first instance, if there is any further information, which either opposition parties have or indeed anybody else has that needs to be looked into that that information should be provided,” Mr Gilmore said.

Earlier today Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said during heated exchanges in the Dáil that the Government had confidence in Mr Shatter

Responding to questions from Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, Ms Burton said she had confidence in Mr Shatter and that the Government had established an independent inquiry into the alleged bugging of the GSOC offices under retired High Court judge John Cooke.

She said Mr Shatter had attended a Dáil committee hearing for four hours yesterday and had indicated he remained available if there were other issues to be addressed.

“Do I have confidence in Mr Shatter? Yes, the Government has confidence in Mr Shatter,” Ms Burton said.

Mr Martin said he had handed details of a series of cases to Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday involving sexual assault and other incidents which it is alleged had not been properly investigated.

He said the former confidential recipient Oliver Connolly, who was relieved of his duties by Mr Shatter yesterday, would have had possession of all of that material for about two years.

He said one of the cases involved the abduction and assault of Mary Lynch, the subsequent abduction of a child in Tipperary by the same culprit, and the murder of Sylvia Roche Kelly in Limerick.

“It was sent to Mr Shatter by the confidential recipient,” Mr Martin added.

Mr Martin said there should be a comprehensive statement from Mr Shatter on why he relieved Mr Connolly of his duties and he should apologise to the Garda whistleblower, Sgt Maurice McCabe, “for wronging him in relation to the allegation of non-co-operation”.

Ms Burton said material had been sent to the Taoiseach last night and he was examining it.

Mr Kenny, she said, wanted to consider it and reflect very carefully on it..

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty claimed Mr Shatter had received information on alleged malpractice in 2012. "Mr Connolly's is the only head that has rolled in relation to this scandal," he added.

Yesterday Mr Martin expressed deep concern about the administration of justice in the State, claiming documents he had obtained showed cases of “abduction, assault and ultimately murder” had not been properly investigated.

Mr Martin said Mr Shatter had failed to take action to investigate the claims and a commission of inquiry was now required.

He added that the Minister’s position was no longer tenable.

Mr Martin received documents relating to nine cases from Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe during a three-hour meeting in Portlaoise last Friday.

“I have sent material to the Taoiseach in relation to other issues the whistleblower has raised, pertaining to issues outside of the penalty points dossier, which relate to the failure to fulfil basic functions in terms of a range of cases – very, very serious cases – involving abduction, assault and ultimately murder, which leaves huge questions for response,” he told reporters at Leinster House.

He said the material given to him by Sgt McCabe related to some cases that have been in the public domain. One of them relates to the murder of Sylvia Roche Kelly, who was found dead in the Clarion Hotel in Limerick in December 2007.

Mr Martin said the files detailed the circumstances surrounding assaults and murders, how they were dealt with and the consequences for the victims over a number of years.

He said Mr Shatter should correct the public record and acknowledge that Sgt McCabe attempted to co-operate with a Garda internal investigation into the penalty points controversy, as well as apologise to the sergeant himself.