A Garda detective sergeant has secured a temporary High Court order restraining the holding of interviews for promotion to the rank of inspector.
Det Sgt Fergus Treanor claims that a retired Garda superintendent, Thomas Long, had told him that on the direction of Chief Supt Colm M. Rooney, he had written unfavourable comments about Det Sgt Treanor to ensure that he would not be promoted to inspector.
He said this exchange with Mr Long occurred in November 2006 before Det Sgt Treanor received a second assessment which was "highly disparaging".
This contrasted with an assessment of a few weeks earlier which was highly complimentary. He said damaging information in the second assessment was seriously inaccurate and with no factual basis.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton yesterday granted an injunction, to next Monday, restraining the Garda Commissioner from continuing with a selection process for promoting sergeants to the rank of inspector.
He also granted an order restraining an interview of Det Sgt Treanor today in circumstances where there is evidence of an intention that the interview would be conducted in breach of his legal, personal and constitutional rights.
Barrister Breffni Gordon, for Det Sgt Treanor, said an assessment compiled by a chief superintendent had contained defamatory remarks about his client's handling of a Garda operation relating to serious crimes.
Det Sgt Treanor applied for promotion to inspector rank and the indications as of October 18th last were that he had received a complimentary recommendation.
However, he had learned on October 26th from Mr Long that Chief Supt Rooney had demanded that Mr Long submit promotion forms on two other applicants who had applied late for promotion. He was told his own application had been submitted some days earlier.