A former Athlone-based garda was named in the Dáil yesterday (May 15 ) as a second whistleblower to come forward in the wake of the Guerin Report.
Garda Keith Harrison, who was stationed in Athlone for seven years until his transfer to Donegal three years ago, wrote a letter to that county’s TD, Sinn Féin’s Pierce Doherty recently, and was named under Dáil privilege yesterday.
In this he outlined a number of misgivings he had in relation to his arrest on Bastion Street in 2009 of a colleague from the local drugs unit for drink driving.
In the letter which Deputy Doherty quoted from in the Dáil yesterday, Garda Harrison claimed Garda management in Athlone “maliciously” set about targeting him for the arrest, and limited him to desk duties for 18 months.
Garda Harrison also pointed out in his letter that the detective in question was allowed carry out all duties, have full access to Garda vehicles, and was still allowed carry his sidearm. Deputy Doherty told the Dáil that Garda Harrison told him he only came forward after the resignations of both the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Minister for Justice Alan Shatter in recent weeks as he now “had more faith in the confidential recipient process”.
Garda Harrison also alleges the case involving the drug squad detective was struck out of court “on dubious grounds”, and that a senior, unnamed officer in Westmeath has prevented the prosecution of a number of individuals in a number of cases.
He also alleged a member of the drug squad was allowing the sale and supply of drugs within the Athlone district, but that his complaints “fell on deaf ears” when raised with management.
It is expected that Deputy Doherty may release further details from Garda Harrison’s letter on a drip-feed basis in the coming days for maximum embarrassment to the Government in the run-up to the triple elections next Friday.
