Testimony of Nóirín O’Sullivan to Dáil committee contradicted

Testimony given by Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan to a Dáil committee has been undermined by written records of a two-hour meeting at which financial irregularities at Templemore Garda College were discussed.

Ms O'Sullivan told the Public Accounts Committee last week that she had a brief exchange with the Garda's head of human resources, John Barrett, about the issues in July 2015 while having a cup of tea at the Co Tipperary college.

The discrepancy over the meeting first arose when the two appeared side-by-side as part of a Garda delegation before the committee last week to discuss financial matters at Templemore.

He suggested to the committee that Ms O’Sullivan was briefed more comprehensively about the problems at the college than she claims. Ms O’Sullivan has insisted that “under no circumstances” did she mislead the committee in her evidence.

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In further documentation sent to the committee, Mr Barrett said he had taken notes at the time he met the commissioner. In them, he had recorded the start and finish time of the meeting, as well as who was present, the issues discussed and the order in which people had walked into the room.

Irregularities

An audit was carried out at the college amid the financial concerns and the resulting report found financial irregularities and evidence that money was being spent on gifts and entertainment. It also confirmed a large number of bank accounts including one for laundry, which was not being used for that purpose.

In the additional documentation, Mr Barrett alleges that he made specific references to his concerns about the scale of the monies involved, the practices in the restaurant, laundry and shop in the Garda college.

His records of the meeting show he suggested making the Department of Justice aware of the situation. He says the meeting "ran for well over two hours" and he left at 19.37pm while the commissioner, Assistant Commissioner John Twomey and two other officials.

The report into the college found financial irregularities and evidence that money was being spent on gifts and entertainment.

It also confirmed a large number of bank accounts including one for laundry, which was not being used for that purpose.

Ms O’Sullivan said the matters first came to the attention of the Garda executive in July 2015.

She confirmed to the committee last week that she met the head of the Garda's legal services, Ken Ruane, about the issues at Templemnore he mentioned Section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act. Under the act a Garda commissioner is legally obliged to inform the minister of the day of any significant matter that would undermine public confidence in the force.

Bring attention

However, she decided against immediately bringing the matter to the attention of Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald. Instead, a steering group, including representatives from the department, was established to examine the issues.

Between July 2015 and March 2016, it closed bank accounts related to the colege and sought legal advice. In March 2016, the Garda Internal Audit Unit was appointed to examine all the issues involved, and it reported in March.

The documentation provided to the committee also details correspondence between Mr Barrett and the head of the Garda internal audit Niall Kelly in October 2016.

Mr Barrett, who is a civilian member of the force, told Mr Kelly the process in Templemore was “understood over many years by those in roles charged with probity and the “entire effice seems to have stood protected from enquiry while remaining in plain view”.

Confidence

Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he had “confidence in the Garda Commissioner to do her job”.

He was responding to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, who referred to the documentation provided by Mr Barrett and said it followed on from other Garda scandals.

Mr Adams said the commissioner’s position was untenable and it was not easy to understand why the Government would not remove her from office.

“There is no rational explanation,’’ he added.

Mr Kenny said the Public Accounts Committee was removed from the influence of the Oireachtas and he was not aware of the papers given to the committee. They had not come into his possession, nor should they, headed.