Tribunal receives three out of four requested statements

The Charleton tribunal received three of four requested statements from senior garda officers on Thursday morning. Statements were submitted by Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn, Chief Superintendent Tony McLoughlin, and Superintendent Eugene McGovern. Retired Assistant Commissioner Kieran Kenny, described as being abroad, was unable to provide a statement at that time. The tribunal had sought the statements following disclosure of handwritten notes taken by Chief Superintendent McGinn at a garda conference held in Letterkenny station on 8 October 2013. Mr Justice Peter Charleton wished to establish what knowledge each officer possessed regarding the meeting, which occurred two days after a complaint statement was made. Tribunal counsel acknowledged that Chief Superintendent McGinn's handwritten notes, submitted to Garda headquarters months earlier, had not been forwarded to the tribunal, as initial review suggested they contained no reference to relevant agencies. During cross-examination, Superintendent McGovern outlined that a decision had been made to refer the complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission under Section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act, citing a substantial risk of death.