Second whistleblower subjected to false allegations seeks wider inquiry

A second Garda who says he also faced false accusations of abuse met TDs in Leinster House as Taoiseach Enda Kenny signalled the Maurice McCabe tribunal of inquiry may be widened to include other whistleblowers.

Galway-born garda Keith Harrison made protected disclosures over concerns about Garda investigations and the behaviour of colleagues on the force.

Formerly stationed in Athlone, he is now living in Donegal.

Mr Harrison said he was subjected to bullying after he brought a charge against a colleague for alleged drink-driving.

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At a later date, he became a whistleblower and made allegations about shortcomings and unacceptable behaviour in Garda operations and investigations.

His solicitor, Trevor Collins, who was also in Leinster House on Wednesday, said Mr Harrison was made a “pariah” by colleagues.

They met Fianna Fáil justice spokesman, Jim O’Callaghan, Independent Alliance Minister Finian McGrath, as well as Minister for Children Katherine Zappone.

Mr Harrison has said he was subject to victimisation and harassment within the force for continuing with the drink-driving prosecution, and also for making a protected disclosure.

He also pointed to his family being referred to the child protection agency, Tusla, on the basis of what he said were baseless allegations.

He has contended this had led to the “dissemination of rumour, innuendo and lies” to the media, politicians and gardaí.

Labour TD Alan Kelly has taken up Mr Harrison’s cause and called for a specific reference to this case in the terms of reference for the tribunal of inquiry being set up to inquire into false accusations made against Sgt McCabe.

Tactics

He said both cases were germane and involved use of the same tactics to discourage whistleblowing.

“We need a specific provision in there for other whistleblowers. Given the similarity between this and the Sgt McCabe case, it needs to deal with the disgraceful way an agenda was pursued to discredit and damage certain whistleblowing gardaí,” Mr Kelly said.

In what was taken as a concession to that end on Wednesday, the Taoiseach told Green Party leader Eamon Ryan in the Dáil that the Government was open to the chair of the tribunal expanding the terms of reference to include whistleblowers other than Mr McCabe.

The chair has yet to be identified.

Crucially, though, Mr Kenny stopped short of committing to any specific reference to garda Harrison in the terms of reference, saying it would be a matter for the judge.