Courts / Westmeath / Report

Medical officer "kept in dark" about whistleblower's sick certs, tribunal told

Date
2019-11-04
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Athlone
County
Westmeath

Summary

In a Disclosures Tribunal hearing at Dublin Castle, Garda whistleblower Nicholas Keogh testified that his general practitioner's certificates diagnosing work‑related stress were withheld from the Garda Chief Medical Officer, leading to his absences being recorded as flu and resulting in reduced pay. Keogh claimed the Garda management deliberately mis‑recorded his sickness and that his complaints about the investigation into alleged collusion were sabotaged. He alleged that a senior officer, Garda A, had an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B, and that the investigation led by former Assistant Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin failed to suspend any suspect. Keogh maintained that the investigation was delayed, evidence was mishandled, and that the Garda Superintendent Patrick Murray neither recorded nor reported his stress to the CMO. The tribunal heard Keogh's allegations and the Garda counsel's rebuttals, with no evidence presented to support the claims of sabotage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Medical officer "kept in dark" about whistleblower's sick certs, tribunal told. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: In his statement of complaint to the tribunal, Gda Keogh states that he was reduced in payment because his absence was being recorded as 'flu/viral on the Garda HR system'. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ms B

Defendant

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Garda Station
  • submitted certificates to Athlone Garda Station
  • Athlone
  • being taken in Athlone Garda Station
  • they went to Athlone Garda Station

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial

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