Courts / Westmeath / Report

"Whistleblower" told politicians that crime figures were being "fiddled"

Date
2019-10-24
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Athlone
County
Westmeath

Summary

In a Disclosures Tribunal hearing, Garda Nicholas Keogh admitted giving documents to TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace alleging that crime figures in his district were being "fiddled" downward, which he described as Garda corruption. Keogh, who is in the second week of the tribunal, claims a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, had an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B, who earned an estimated €2,500 a week. He also cites a 2015 robbery case that was reclassified by Superintendent Patrick Murray after the complainant withdrew a statement, arguing this reclassification was an example of fiddling. Keogh says he spoke to Daly and Wallace about the massaging of figures, and that he printed the documents and presented them to the TDs. The tribunal heard that Daly had referenced the alleged fiddling in a Dáil speech, claiming evidence of at least eight cases where crimes were reclassified as less serious.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Whistleblower" told politicians that crime figures were being "fiddled". Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: "The injured party made a statement and it is fiddling the figures because there's one less serious crime on the system," said Gda Keogh. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ms B

Defendant

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Theft

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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