INQUIRIES:TWO INQUIRIES are taking place into the events that led to the resignation of Trevor Sargent, and one into those surrounding the resignation of Willie O'Dea.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has received a complaint relating to events surrounding the prosecution of Dominic McGowan following a row with a neighbour where he was assaulted. However, a spokesman for the GSOC said it could not reveal the identity of complainants.
The spokesman said the GSOC was “considering the issues raised in that complaint to ascertain its admissibility and the appropriate form of investigation. The complaint does not relate directly to the issue of possible misuse of confidential information by Gardaí.”
Mr McGowan says he made representations to a number of politicians, including Mr Sargent, after he was arrested by gardaí who were called when he was assaulted by a neighbour. The neighbour was later convicted of assault and Mr McGowan was convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour towards the gardaí. The neighbour is appealing his conviction and sentence.
Mr McGowan said that Mr Sargent was the only politician to take the matter up.
The former Green Party leader wrote to the gardaí in the hope of having the summons dropped. This violated the 1974 Prosecution of Offences Act, and Mr Sargent acknowledged this on Tuesday and resigned as minister of state for food and horticulture.
Meanwhile, the Garda Commissioner has ordered an inquiry into the leaking of the correspondence relating to this case. He has also ordered an inquiry into the allegations of perjury against former minister for defence Willie O’Dea.
Fachtna Murphy announced yesterday he had appointed a chief superintendent “to examine and inquire into all the circumstances surrounding the recent public disclosure of correspondence addressed to An Garda Síochána at Balbriggan Garda station.”
He named Chief Supt John Twomey of Pearse Street Garda station in Dublin to carry out both inquiries. However, in a statement hours later he said that the inquiries would be conducted by Chief Supt Michael Finn of Cork division “for operational and logistical reasons”.
The statement added: “The commissioner has also tasked the chief superintendent to inquire into a complaint made by a member of the public at the Bridewell Garda station on February 18th, 2010, and other related matters arising from a separate case in Limerick.” A Garda spokesman confirmed this related to the perjury allegation.
“Any matter arising from the inquiries requiring consideration by the Director of Public Prosecutions will be forwarded to his office for direction. It is the intention of the Garda Commissioner to forward a copy of the final report to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform,” the statement continued.
The GSOC spokesman said the commission was aware of this inquiry, and had asked for the completed report. The commissioner confirmed it would be forwarded, and the GSOC spokesman said this would be taken into account when the ombudsman arrived at its own decisions in due course.