Courts / Westmeath / Report

Statement by alleged heroin dealer "sat on for five months", garda tells tribunal

Date
2019-11-05
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Athlone
County
Westmeath

Summary

Garda Nicholas Keogh, a whistleblower, testified before the Disclosures Tribunal that he had concerns about whether his complaints were investigated in good faith. He alleged that a senior member of the Athlone drugs unit, identified as Garda A, was in an improper relationship with a heroin dealer, Ms B, who earned an estimated €2,500 a week. Keogh claimed that Ms B's admission in March 2018 was "sat on for five months" before being passed to Detective Inspector Coppinger, and that the matter was not acted on immediately. He also contested that Assistant Commissioner Ann Marie McMahon's disciplinary investigation, which led to a recommendation for a board of inquiry, was not a criminal investigation and that it should not have involved arrests. Keogh's testimony highlighted his belief that the investigation was part of a conspiracy to supply heroin and that the evidence was mishandled.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Statement by alleged heroin dealer "sat on for five months", garda tells tribunal. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: Credit: Collins) By Paul Neilan A Garda whistleblower has told a tribunal that he has a "huge issue" on whether or not his complaints were being investigated in good faith because of an "incredible" admission by an alleged heroin-dealer that was "sat on for five months". CNI source report

Case subjects

Ms B

Defendant

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Garda Station
  • three gardaí from Athlone Garda Station
  • Athlone

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request