Garda whistleblowers John Wilson and Sgt Maurice McCabe last night welcomed the apology and withdrawal of erroneous remarks made by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.
Mr Shatter yesterday withdrew comments made in the Dáil in which he said the whistleblowers failed to co-operate with an investigation into the penalty points system. “It was never my intention to mislead the House and I believe it is appropriate that I apologise to both and withdraw the statements made,” he said.
Speaking later, Sgt McCabe said he was glad the record of the Dáil had been corrected, while a source close to his family later said he felt "vindicated" by Mr Shatter's remarks in the Dáil.
Mr Wilson, meanwhile, said the apology had been “a long time coming” but that he was “glad that the record has been finally corrected”.
“I’m glad that the record has been finally corrected about how we reported our concerns about the unlawful termination of tens of thousands of lawfully issued fixed charge penalty notices,” he said.
“Approximately 10,000 of these lawfully issued notices were unlawfully terminated on a yearly basis by senior Garda officers. These practices have now ceased directly as a result of our complaints.”
He reiterated his call for other potential whistleblowers in the force to avoid bringing information to – or seeking assistance from – Garda authorities in relation to concerns about Garda misconduct.
“I still encourage any prospective Garda whistleblowers reporting malpractice, wrongdoing and corruption within the force to report their concerns to a member of the Oireachtas and seek advice from Transparency International Ireland,” he said.
“My colleague Sgt Maurice McCabe is still being penalised on a daily basis for reporting malpractice and corruption within the force. The Garda authorities should be proud to have a person of the calibre of Sgt Maurice McCabe as a member of our policing service. I’m demanding in the public interest that Sgt McCabe has his full rights of access to the Garda Pulse system restored with immediate effect,” he added.
Transparency International Ireland chief executive John Devitt said he was “relieved” for Mr Wilson and Sgt McCabe that the Minister had apologised.
