A Mayo View: RTÉ's gardaí whistleblowers exposé could have serious political ramifications

The RTÉ Investigates programme featuring four garda whistleblowers who waived their anonymity to raise serious concerns from inside An Garda Síochána has presented the government with a major political headache at the worst possible time.

The exposé showed that the oppressive and vindictive culture that existed when former Garda Maurice McCabe was targeted for speaking out has not been rooted out of the force.

Viewers were shocked with many of the allegations which included firearms and ammunition being stored in appalling conditions, warnings about unsafe holsters being ignored, the refusal to technically examine the holster worn by Detective Garda Colm Horkan when his firearm was taken and used to murder him, and alleged interference with a protected disclosure file concerning a shotgun which disappeared from garda custody and was returned to criminal hands 13 years later.

It also revealed that people working in the garda office responsible for protecting whistleblowers became so disturbed by what they witnessed that they became whistleblowers themselves.

A number of TDs – including Pearse Doherty (Sinn Féin), Alan Kelly (Labour Party) and Gary Gannon (Social Democrats) – have been seeking answers in Dáil Éireann from former Minister for Justice Helen McEntee in regard to the claims.

She says, at this time, she is prevented by legislation from commenting publicly on any such matters which are currently under investigation or going through the legal system.

That fair enough and understandable.

But one suspects the level of political pressure that is likely to build up over the coming weeks on this matter may force the current minister, Jim O’Callaghan, and his department to bring further clarity to this situation.

Because, as it stands, the public’s faith in internal policing systems and the protected disclosure process is in serious question due to the RTÉ documentary which is, to say the least, the talk of the nation.

The fact that one of the issues highlighted - that of defective holsters issued to gardaí – had a contributory role in the murder of Mayo Garda Detective Colm Horkan in June 2020 makes the controversy of every greater interest in these parts.

The future of policing in Ireland is at a crossroads at this junction.

There needs to be full and concise clarity on the allegations raised so that An Garda Síochána can move forward.

That must happen sooner rather than later.