WE HAVE been asked by solicitors acting on behalf of Chief Superintendent John O'Brien to further clarify the context and substance of a report which appeared in our editions of June 4th relating to the appointment of the Garda Commissioner.
Mr O'Brien made it clear that the Chief Superintendents' Association and he himself had no preferred agenda or procedure for an appointment outside the force at that time. A policy position has since been adopted in favour of an appointment from within the force.
The discussion between Mr O'Brien and our reporter, which was conducted on the telephone, was not initiated by Mr O'Brien. At the outset Mr O'Brien made it clear to the reporter that he did not believe there was any substance to media reports that the Government was considering a civilian appointment as Garda Commissioner.
In answering questions from our reporter, Mr O'Brien made it clear that he would not comment on any personalities. His remarks did not relate to the pending appointment and he was not seeking to lay down conditions for future appointments. Nor was he commenting on past or present incumbents in the position of Garda Commissioner.
The report and headline have caused considerable distress in as much as remarks attributed to Mr O'Brien may have been interpreted as giving a prescriptive view on the filling of the post of Commissioner of An Garda Siochana when it falls vacant next month. The Irish Times regrets any embarrassment which may have been inadvertently caused.