Courts / Westmeath / Report

"We are not going to allow this whistleblower to win": garda says he was "trapped" in stressful job

Date
2019-10-17
Stage
Hearing Or Decision
Primary locality
Athlone
County
Westmeath

Summary

A Garda has told the Disclosures Tribunal that he believes he was deliberately confined to stressful desk duties at Athlone Garda Station because he made a protected disclosure in 2014. Garda Nicholas Keogh alleged that a senior member of the drugs unit engaged in an improper relationship with a heroin dealer. Following the suspension of the officer in question, Keogh was assigned to public office duties in October 2015, work he characterised as the most stressful in the station. He stated his hands were visibly shaking during a meeting with Superintendent Patrick Murray about the assignment. Keogh denied agreeing to the move and expressed belief that management deliberately assigned him to public duties to demonstrate control over whistleblowers. He also alleged that his request for leave to meet the Garda Ombudsman in August 2015 was refused improperly by Superintendent Murray. Judge Sean Ryan is chairing the tribunal's investigation into how Keogh was treated following his disclosure.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "We are not going to allow this whistleblower to win": garda says he was "trapped" in stressful job. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

Why: Credit: Collins) By Paul Neilan A Garda has told the Disclosures Tribunal that he believes he was left "trapped" in "the most stressful job in the station" because he had become a whistle-blower. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ms B

Defendant

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Garda Station
  • indoor duty at Athlone Garda Station
  • Athlone

Topics

Drugs Stage Hearing Or Decision

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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