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Asked about controversies, Commissioner says there are 'inaccuracies we cannot correct at the moment'

Nóirín O’Sullivan said she was concerned about the impact of recent issues on public confidence in policing.

GARDA COMMISSIONER NÓIRÍN O’Sullivan has spoken of frustration within An Garda Síochána that “inaccuracies” in the public domain have not been openly corrected by management.

She was speaking at the latest public meeting with the Policing Authority – the first public questioning for O’Sullivan and her senior team since a tribunal was called into an alleged smearing campaign against garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

Chairperson Josephine Feehily kicked off the meeting by informing those watching proceedings that the authority was not in a position to discuss the specifics of the tribunal, though she acknowledged there were questions the public would like to see asked – and that members would like to be able to ask.

The Commissioner and her management colleagues were, however, asked about whether they were concerned about the impact recent controversies would have on public confidence in the force and on garda morale.

“Of course I am,” O’Sullivan told the meeting. She acknowledged that there were “very significant issues that have arisen” and welcomed the fact that these issues would be dealt with in a public forum.

“A lot of inaccurate information goes into the public domain. We have to address whether we always balance it,” O’Sullivan said. She added that some of this information was “very personal – not just to me”.

There’s lots of frustration on behalf of some of our members – a lot of our members – in terms of the inaccuracies that are portrayed about the…Unfortunately, and I think [Assistant Commissioner] Eugene [Corcoran] touched off it earlier, unfortunately some of those inaccuracies we cannot correct at the moment and there needs to be an understanding of that from our own members.

Corcoran had earlier commented:

Much of the commentary that has taken place to date has taken place in an environment where we’re totally restricted in how we respond. To that extent the establishment of the tribunal will improve the situation. Everybody will be able to see and hear what the responses will be in due course.

Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll had also spoken of a frustration in relation to recent issues, commenting that “there is another view of events that has not been aired yet”.

“When talking to staff, I’m assuring them this will be a public platform where all information will come out and in an appropriate manner.”

‘Group think’

The Commissioner, O’Driscoll and Corcoran were later warned by authority member Maureen Lynott to be careful “not to group think”.

“The fact is you have a large complicated force and there are issues of significant concern and I think the message you need to be very aware of the message that sends to your garda members,” she told them.

They may well know all’s not well in the garden – I don’t know what I don’t know where – but they will know for sure where things aren’t well in the garden. Saying that, your side of the story, it just it struck me as a little too certain.

In response, O’Sullivan said her earlier comments had not been in relation to the tribunal, rather she had been answering a “question about communications in the media”.

“I was saying that one of the aspects of frustrations of our people was the inaccuracy of some of the stories that are in the public domain.”

Read: Tusla boss admits confidence in system ‘may well have been undermined’>

Read: Abuse claim against McCabe was not ‘copy/paste’ error – report>

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41 Comments
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    Mute Ferg Breen
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:00 AM

    We Need To Talk About Dylan.

    76
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    Mute reg gordon
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    Sep 26th 2014, 7:50 AM

    Can’t agree with this
    So the killer becomes even more notorious?
    These killings should be consigned to the past as they happen to prevent copy cat events

    36
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    Mute tmwtbc
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:14 AM

    There have been countless books written about countless murders and massacres; by victims, investigating officers and even perpetrators themselves. This is no different.

    83
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    Mute Cathal Golden
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:16 AM

    So I suppose all massacres and maybe even genocide should also be consigned to the past? How very irish of you!

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    Mute Ablitive
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:18 AM

    Copy cat false flags is the correct terminology.

    A search for the “victims” of the 1999 Columbine ‘massacre’ in official records yields some shocking results …there aren’t any

    http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1ab_1399244702

    10
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    Mute Jake Race
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    Sep 26th 2014, 12:57 PM

    Maybe Bob Geldof will write a song about it too.

    4
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    Mute Chris Mackey
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:37 AM

    As a parent with a son in college that is one of the things that I worry about but are we just a generation away from it happening here where we have parents being killed or seriously injured while we drop our children to school. You can buy a gun easier in the states than a car, We are going the same way here. What the solution is I don’t know, we can make it more difficult to but weapons/drugs/ etc but if you stand outside any school & ask the students where you can get these things I will bet my wages that within a few min you will have what you want or be given the name of someone who can get it for you.

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    Mute Chris Mackey
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    Sep 26th 2014, 9:08 AM

    I should say he is in college in the states but click red if you wish but it is going to happen here all we have to do is look at the amount of bullying in schools from playgroup/playgrounds/ parks/internet/ right up into the work place. We are to a nation that pretends this will never happen to me. It can happen, we are a generation away from this happening even if you dont agree with me. All you have to do is read papers, listen to the news its out there we need to wake up & smell the coffee. Click red all you like but it is just a generation away

    18
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    Mute Jake Race
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    Sep 26th 2014, 12:59 PM

    ” You can buy a gun easier in the states than a car, We are going the same way here.”

    In what respect are we “going the same way here”?

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    Mute Chris Mackey
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    Sep 26th 2014, 6:18 PM

    You can buy a gun in walmark or on any street the same as here I bet you could go into a pub anywhere in Ireland get drugs, guns etc & if you think this is not true then ask any teenager they will know where to go or know someone who knows someone where to get it

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    Mute Justin O'Connell
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:59 AM

    Who is worse here, the mother for writing the book or the public that will buy it..??
    “Paper will never refuse ink”

    12
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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Sep 26th 2014, 6:26 PM

    …& the journal will never refuse nutjobs.

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    Mute Juan Venegas
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    Sep 26th 2014, 10:27 AM

    People always trying to Ka$hing at any cost

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    Mute Loop De Loop
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    Sep 26th 2014, 10:44 AM

    Eh … She’s giving the profits away ????

    54
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    Mute Jake Race
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    Sep 26th 2014, 12:57 PM

    A parenting manual no doubt.

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    Mute Rowan T Cregan
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    Sep 27th 2014, 9:06 AM

    The reference work on that day is the book, “Columbine” by Dave Cullen. He goes through the initial reports of that day and demonstrates that every word released by the local police chief was untrue.

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    Mute Andrew Dunne
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:11 AM

    Actually this book could not recent future shootings.

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    Mute Andrew Dunne
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:11 AM

    *prevent

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