Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Alan Shatter and Enda Kenny in happier times. Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

The government is backing the man who caused Alan Shatter to resign

The government will cover legal costs as the former justice minister seeks to quash some of the Guerin report’s findings.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL pay the legal costs of the barrister whose scathing report led to Alan Shatter’s resignation as justice minister in May.

Shatter is taking legal action in the High Court to quash some of Seán Guerin’s findings in his report into the handling of allegations of garda malpractice by whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

The report’s findings led to the resignation of Shatter who has since heavily criticised its conclusions and the conduct of Guerin in two separate Dáil speeches, particularly the senior counsel’s failure to interview him during the course of his inquiry.

In his court action filed last week the Fine Gael backbencher alleged objective bias, absence of fair procedures and “indecent haste” on the part of Guerin in how he compiled his report into the handling of the allegations.

He wants some of the reports allegations quashed but the government will be backing Guerin in the High Court case, confirming today it plans to cover any of his legal costs.

“We’re going to indemnify him,” a government spokesperson said this afternoon.

Background: How has Alan Shatter gone from Department of Justice to High Court?

Analysis: Here’s why Alan Shatter’s legal challenge could cause the government more problems

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
21 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colette Kearns
    Favourite Colette Kearns
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 4:22 PM

    Dont you just love the line ” the goverment will pay” should read ” the tax payer will pay”.

    171
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute royston T justice
    Favourite royston T justice
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 4:25 PM

    ..I’m delighted that tax payers money has been spent wisely in the demise of Alan Shatter!

    118
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin
    Favourite Martin
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 4:27 PM

    Good

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Hartigan
    Favourite Tony Hartigan
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 10:38 PM

    And we are told the FF’s are the corrupt party !

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Ryan
    Favourite Martin Ryan
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 5:05 PM

    Alan shatter, should be well able to defend himself instead of wasting taxpayers money.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robin Tobin
    Favourite Robin Tobin
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 11:54 AM

    Martin good point but the expansion should be Shatter is in denial he firmly believes he was a great justice minister, we all know like Guerin he was not fit to be minister. But the daft mad thing is the People in Government who stood over him while everybody else knew he was bad are the same people prepared to pay Guerin legal costs against Shatter. Isn’t it clearly a case of the two faced politician.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Roche
    Favourite Paul Roche
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 4:29 PM

    Who will pay the costs if he loses?

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RP McMurphy
    Favourite RP McMurphy
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 4:43 PM

    We will pay no matter what the outcome! This is a multi-personal vendetta now, new Cabinet members vs old Cabinet members along with the age-old civil war divides, parish pump class war and of course a small dose of passive anti-semitism:-)

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Hannigan
    Favourite Paddy Hannigan
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 5:39 PM

    I didn’t actually know Shatter was jewish until his fall from grace.I always thought he was a horrible little sh*t though.Claiming anti semitism whether covert or overt is just weak in this regard.A horrible little sh*t is a horrible little sh*t regardless of religion , race or gender.

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerry Blake
    Favourite Kerry Blake
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 6:08 PM

    Did not the resigning minister not agree the terms of reference and duration of Guerin report while he was minister of Justice? Could he not just save everyone some time and money and just take legal action against himself. If he wants I’ll lend him a mirror.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Snorre Sturleson
    Favourite Snorre Sturleson
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 6:40 PM

    Alan is a very bitter man……. we just dont get his magnificance

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Ryan
    Favourite Dermot Ryan
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 4:55 PM

    Enda – Withdraw all Irish soldiers from overseas and place them in quarantine .. Thanks !

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RP McMurphy
    Favourite RP McMurphy
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 5:04 PM

    @Dermot. Should that comment be re Ebola thread or..?

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute royston T justice
    Favourite royston T justice
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 5:30 PM

    ..or the senseless thread?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Roche
    Favourite Paul Roche
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 5:52 PM

    2nd thought… Since fair procedures is an issue here, which politically appointed judge will hear the case?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Snorre Sturleson
    Favourite Snorre Sturleson
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 6:38 PM

    Why Martin Nolan is yer man……wink wink

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Gorman
    Favourite James Gorman
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 9:08 PM

    Bet Shatter succeeds – makes no sense that he wasn’t interviewed or given right to reply before the report was issued.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Ryan
    Favourite Mary Ryan
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 11:12 PM

    A first year law student learns the basic principles of fair procedures I.e. nemo iudex and audi alterem partem. A first year law student would have done a better job than Guerin. It’s not that he didn’t know the rules – he is a clever guy. Ask the question – why did he choose not to apply the rules?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robin Tobin
    Favourite Robin Tobin
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 11:58 AM

    Mary are you not aware of the government tribunal and review campaigns that the conclusions drawn has to be as the legal term goes nemo to blame. Audi alterem partem never applies in any government review. I guess Shatter taught this was going to be the case when he set up the Guerin terms of reference. The monkey in the cage Shatter is now another guinea pig of governments policy.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mercurial Manchester
    Favourite Mercurial Manchester
    Report
    Aug 8th 2014, 9:42 PM

    I always thought Shatter was a ringer for Gargamel from the Smurfs :)

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robin Tobin
    Favourite Robin Tobin
    Report
    Aug 9th 2014, 11:49 AM

    Since 2009 experts that gave Senior Council Coffeyhis job for the stardust review, have been asking the government and most recently Minister Frances Fitzgerald to pay their debts they got saddled with over the process. It is now August 2014 years later and Enda Kenny has told them these debts are under review , while under review these experts are still paying these debts. The figure isn’t even any where near what this case will costs the state. I guess if you chew the governments ideology you can get any massaged figure you like. But if like those experts for 48 dead people you get debts from the government. Where is the fair ideology in that. The processes both government reviews but the fairness and gauranteed vouched expenses of the experts for stardust were saddled with these debts while the government plays tiddly winks and on the other hand expedites payments for Guerin legal costs against Shatter. Pay the experts what their owed on Stardust Enda or explain why the arse of your pants fell out when in the future the case is proven to be corrupt.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.