Courts / Westmeath / Report

Whistleblower's allegation "daft", senior garda tells tribunal

Date
2019-11-15
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Athlone
County
Westmeath

Summary

Chief Superintendent Mark Curran, a senior Garda, gave evidence at the Disclosures Tribunal on 15 November 2019, stating he was "very upset" by a bullying claim made by whistleblower Garda Nicholas Keogh. Curran described Keogh's allegation that he had removed evidence DVDs from an Athlone Garda Station store as "daft and without basis", insisting no such removal occurred. He also denied any wrongdoing in handling a source that Keogh had refused to hand over, arguing that source management is a collective responsibility of An Garda Síochána and requires trained handlers. Curran rejected all targeting allegations, asserting he had acted within his duties and was not negligent. The tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, had heard from Keogh and was investigating whether Keogh was targeted after his protected disclosure of alleged Garda heroin‑collusion on 8 May 2014. Curran's evidence concluded on 15 November, with the tribunal resuming on 26 November.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Whistleblower's allegation "daft", senior garda tells tribunal. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: Chief Supt Curran was told of a meeting in Mullingar Park Hotel in which Gda Keogh is recorded as telling investigating gardaí that he had an "open mind" about Chief Supt Curran but because he was friends with another superintendent that the complaint of bullying, harassment or targeting stood. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ms B

Defendant

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Garda Station
  • store room in Athlone Garda Station
  • Athlone
  • store in Athlone Garda Station
Address Area
  • Mullingar Park

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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