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No comment from Gardaí on GSOC “slip-up” story
After new revelations today, the Garda Síochána is staying tight-lipped on the issue of bugging.
Image: Photocall Ireland
THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA are remaining tight-lipped on reports that the Garda Ombudsman ordered a sweep for bugs after a senior garda let slip that he knew of the contents of a confidential report.
Today’s Sunday Times reports that the knowledge held by a senior member of the force was found to be “disconcerting” for staff in the Ombudsman’s office.
The paper says that the discussion related to text that had been discussed at GSOC HQ, but did not make it into a report.
However, the Garda Press Office told TheJournal.ie that they would not be making a comment this morning.
A spokesperson said that any statement would come from the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, but that the decision to make a statement would rest with him alone.
Elsewhere, The Sunday World newspaper has revealed that they have made a complaint to the Ombudsman relating to one of their journalists.
The paper claims that gardaí have requested the phone records of investigations editor Nicola Tallant.
Read: The GSOC bugging saga: Here’s what’s happened since the story broke last Sunday
Comments (83 Comments)
- The repeated attempts by Callinan and Shatter to obfuscate, muddy the waters and divert from the real story make them very very suspicious looking.
- Who was Kieran Boylan working for, that he enjoyed such a protected status within the Guards.A certain captain of industry, a household name who died in the last 12 months was described as the Mr. Big of Heroin in Ireland, a man who made his fortune in unusual circumstances as far as the public knows but has had rumours circulating around him, employee’s being arrested for importation, his facilities being used etc for a very long time.He had close links to most of the major political players in the last 30 years. Including ones that I greatly admire.I think the Kieran Boylan case, if the truth comes out will rock this state to its very foundation, nothing in the last 90 years will come close to it.
- The blueshirts have never drifted too far from their quasi fascist roots and watching Shatter diligently upholding this tradition is a grotesque irony.
- Plus, that man who passed away that we both know also had 2 other partners one known for his gambling and the other for his share dealing, did you know that,
- A load of Bollox the lot of it. The smell of bullshit is overpowering!
- When ‘no comment’ means ‘we’re speechless’
That doesn’t happen too often.
Bye bye Minister…
- If the Gardai are guilty of bugging and misrepresenting the facts to the minister, it isn’t the minister that will get fired – even if you wish it was.
- …but if he was helping the Gardai to sweep the story under the carpet? If he was attacking the independent group, with the authority to investigate the Gardai, by casting dispersions on it?
- John, Shatter was too quick to attack GSOC and too hard. He created the “ball of smoke”. He has been guarding Callinan’s back over the Penalty Points affair. He has admitted to receiving briefings from Callinan on Garda information on political rivals. And he has admitted to then using this information for political gain.In my mind, the two are inseparable because of the closeness of the relationship they have entered into freely with one another. If Callinan is found to have done wrong then I am of no doubt the Shatter has to go. We cannot have a Minister for Justice conduct himself like that.My only question in that event is over the Taoiseach’s mal-informed singing from Shatter’s hymn sheet on Monday. If Callinan (and hence Shatter) is found to have done wrong then that showed unbelievable naivety from Kenny. I’m willing to give Kenny fair doubt but he would have to do a lot if hand-washing to cleanse himself of this stink.
- Don’t be silly this is Ireland Shatter won’t be going anywhere until after the next election
- Shane
Spread those dispersions in as spurious a manner as you can as persons can then disperse before they become spread out!
- Shatters position is untenable.
He does not have the confidence of the GSOC.
By attempting to discredit the GSOC, he has turned this incident into a circus.
He has yet to explain his Dail omissions.
- Sooner or later scapegoat will be selected as additional distraction device to change narrative. Ends and co not want go down with news drug pusher possible selling with possible Gardi knowledge just because he alleged informer.When leak get out about this matter via person not supposed to know details spoke but not in a final report, bug detectors were immediately called in. GSOC staff had to have meetings in cafes near offices instead.
- Kenny should clarify his position as well.
- If the Guards were bugging the GSOC and it is getting harder day by day to pretend otherwise then the force will have to be completely reformed and large replacements so as to start again.The culture at the top seems to be rotten to the core.Even good men are part of the problem in a body where a culture of rot and contempt for the state and people is the norm.
- @Seanie.
I totally agree with you on that statement. All senior officers presently at the top of the National Drug Squad that surfed the promotion wave allowing them plain sailing to a higher rank due to their dealings and collusion in the drug trade! Most have not gained promotions on merit.
Corruption is a malignant tumour in Irish-politics and has spread throughout every fibre of our authoritarian society!
- The uncomfortable truth is that the Boylan affair went on while FF were in Govt. as well.I think that this will tear Irish politics apart.
- Either Shatter, Callinan or O’ Brien are going down on this one. Up until today my money was on O’ Brien having to resign. But after reading “The paper claims that gardaí have requested the phone records of investigations editor Nicola Tallant” Callinan is now toast.
- Callinan will retire with a fully paid up pension and a 6 figure tax free lump sum. That’s how the big shots are punished in Ireland.
- big shots? you mean public sector middle management and upwards. jobs for life, pensions and perks. performance un-related pay.This is probably one of those very rare situations where a serious crime might have been committed that might mean a public servant gets fired! that’s what it takes.
Otherwise they could have just sat at their desk eating donuts for 35 years from 20 to retirement and picked up annual payrises and a big pension along the way.
- I agree Johngahan , but god bless your naivety – these guys wouldn’t know what honesty is if it hit them in the face!
- I wish you were right Sam but this Ireland which means nobody is accountable and nobody every resigns, they ‘retire’ or misteriously decide to move to another role of their own volition
- Rodrigo.
Sometimes it becomes nauseating to watch you just stating the obvious.everyone knows that the Commissioner has already accrued a full pension under the Rules.
You are suggesting of hinting that the man has either broken the law or said Rules to make himself in eligible to receive such a contractual entitlement.
Would you have the decency to come out from behind your name screen and identify either those Rules or Laws that the man has broken to render him unfit to receive such payments and on this occasion no waffle please.
- More than Callinan will have to go.At this stage the whole senior levels of the force have lost the trust of the public.
- This is classic, this lunatic rodgers that hides behind so many false accounts accusing others of the same.
You couldn’t make it up.
- Richard. It would seem that only you would attempt to defend the indefensible. Callinan is up to his neck in it, and virtually admitted it to the public accounts committee. How was he able to declare that no member of an Garda Siochana has being spying on GSOC only 3 days of the allegations becoming public knowledge? The fastest investigation in the history of the state. Circumstantial evidence alone would ensure he is as guilty as hell, and even you should be able to see this.
- Rodrigo
You accuse me of defending the indefensible and then proceed to accuse the Commissioner of being up to his neck in it.
Let’s slow down a bit fella.
I defended nothing. I merely asked you to identify the legal basis upon which you would propose to have the Garda Commisssioner legal entitlement of a Pension removed from him. You failed to give Even a hint of an answer but alternatively attacked my persona for daring to challenge you. I dare say Rodrigo that the Commissioner has has the common dense to read the submissions of the Chair of the GSOC and didn’t need to blink before he gave that definitive and formal response. Alternatively you want him fired jailed and penniless .
I don’t suppose you have had previous contact with the Gardai ……..of the more unpleasant kind ?
- Ritchie, Reg and the rest of the press office interns have had a disappointing performance this week. Their attempts to muddy the waters and man-marking commentators have been amateurish and transparent.
If they don’t up their game they’ll be on job-bridge for the next 10 years.
- Its O’Brien, he should tell the truth and say he does not trust shatter or the garda commissioner quite right not to. there is to much emphasis put on why no one was informed of the bug sweep rather that who put them there. although it could be swept under the carpet like everything else in this country. it’s getting rather cluttered under there now with tribunals, reports sham investigation corruption lies oh sorry i meant untruths. it’s starting to look like a mountain.
- This is why bullying is RIFE in the lower down part of the public sector. Because it’s spirited soon after entry that it’s corrupt and they try bully you out when you question. That’s why unions are paid off and why there is no proper anti bullying legislation. You’re told to quit rather than challenge it.
- So what was Shatter saying in the Dail about this? He appears to be the tail of the poodle busy wagging it every time the commissioner says good boy.
- And so the cover up continues. There are two entities in the state with the equipment and funding to pull off the operation alluded to in the security companys report. Shatter is the minister for both of them. He should be setting up an independent enquiry, but instead is obfuscating, spinning and undermining.He should have been removed a long time ago. The fact he is still minister for justice at this stage speaks more about kenny than shatter.
- Three.. 3rd bring the Irish Secret Service. Not beyond the bounds of possibility.
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- Callinan & Shatter now totally exposed by their various ‘porky pies’ . Time now for both of them to resign – only problem though is that they get to reach into the trough and get the big payoff and pension each!
Time for Enda too , to go on that visit to the President in the Park to call an Election – but he won’t , you know – power always outguns credibility !
- Government, Police and media (large section but not all ) making up a nasty state troika. Result is attacks on the people , whistleblowers, GSOC and anything else that stands in its way. Starting to sound like Jim Corr so I am, conspiracy then again maybe it’s all coincidence
- Richie, Jim Corr bases everything he says on unproven nonsense. Everything you just stated is fact. Now they want a journalist’s phone records. This is very scary stuff.
- The story is still unfolding so we don’t know who should resign yet!
- A lot of lies and cover up here.
I believe the Ombudsman.
This stinks to high heaven.
- This generation of Irish people are slowly coming to realize what those of us older people know, that Ireland is the most corrupt nation in the western world.
- I’m very surprised you’ve received so many red thumbs for such an incredibly accurate statement – there is clearly a huge amount of denial out there
- Have to say that I’m starting to see that now.When you look at the links behind this story you have to wonder has big heroin money corrupted key players in this state for the last few decades.
- “The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.”
Thomas Paine
- Shatter and Callinan gone this week or Enda starts to drag the government toward the plug hole as well !
- Any half decent European country would be going to the polls right now, or at the very least be seeking a new police chief and minister for justice.
- Labours continued participation in this Government should not be forgotten.
- The cops were up to their armpits in this.
The dogs in the streets know it.
The only question is whether or not the Minister for ‘Justice’ was aware of it.
Callinan has to go, independent enquiry, a round of sackings and prosecutions, possible fall of government. . . . . . . what am I on about, this is Ireland, cover up and whitewash, promotions and pensions for the wrong doers, carry on as normal.
- The irony is the Gardai are probably bugging the Minister for Justice as well.
- Enda has to bump off shatter and Adolf callinan or fine Gael are gonna sink. This is the biggest corruption story in Irish history.
- Even if it gets proven that the Garda was behind the bugging they will say it was a unidentified rogue element and no one will be held responsible.
- Kieran boylan imported and pushed millions of euros worth of heroin with the full knowledge of the State, this is beyond evil. That the state knowingly imported heroin, which killed people and destroyed families is a crime against humanity.The fact that the State media covered it up is a crime against journalism.
- Why was such a large scale dealer protected by the force.Who was he working for and what pull did that man have.Have the vast proceeds of narcotics corrupted this state.
- Don’t forget he imported guns as well which probably contributed to some of the shootings and murders around the country.he may have supplied the gun that murdered one of their Own Garda. Just a thought. I doubt if they were wall ornaments.
- Cheers journal, a bit sluggish on this last week but better today. I wonder if the guards say nothing then Rte won’t report on it as they’re a mouthpiece for the establishment. Their coverage has been disgraceful.
- Stop watching RTE altogether. Uninstall their news apps. Avoid their t.v. Broadcasts and skip them on the radio band. Don’t participate in their propaganda. Total non compliance.
- There is something afoot and if it’s not afoot it definitely a good 11inches
- These are the moments when highly paid government spin doctors earn their corn. In fairness they have played blinders for kenny.
Breaking the pay scale for these positions as the first act of a new governance was only going to mean one thing. The only surprise is that it has taken only 3 years to rid the country of democracy while kenny shatter noonan etc must have forseen it as a 5 year project minimum.
Up Ireland.
- Simple matter is we all know that the Gardai have no interest in protecting the public and civil liberties, They are here to keep people in check and make sure government and big business remains safe. It’s not just here it is all over the world. Just look what is going on in Ukraine and even America. I have never had faith in our so called Men of Law and this just goes to prove my suspicions even further. There need’s to be accountability for this which sadly there won’t be. The law is there and always has been to control the masses and protect those in power. We never learn from history we only repeat it. It’s very sad
- Callinan and Shatter have too close of a relationship, and are known to be friends, they will back each other up. As for the Gardai, they have no right to know of the phone records of a papers journalist or of any other citizen of Ireland for that matter. The Gardai are meant to represent the people of Ireland, they are our police force and when they blacken their name, they blacken themselves, their family and their citizens. Everything should be done by the book, we’re sick of corruption and shady crap in this country, so delve deep and sort this out someone. We need to know what happened.
- Disband the drug squad and the special branch, put electricity through kieran boylans testicles until he tells the truth about state drug pushing.
- Ok so planted the bugs
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