Courts / Westmeath / Report
Garda told investigation he was trying to cultivate drug dealer as "tout"
Summary
The Disclosures Tribunal, chaired by Judge Sean Ryan, is in its tenth week of hearing evidence regarding whistleblower Garda Nicholas Keogh, who made a protected disclosure in 2014 alleging he was targeted. The proceedings examine claims that a senior Athlone drugs unit member, identified as Garda A, colluded with a heroin dealer, identified as Ms B. Assistant Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon, who conducted a disciplinary investigation assigned in 2017, testified that Garda A denied maintaining an improper relationship or tipping off Ms B. However, an analysis of 15,213 call records revealed 1,672 contacts between Garda A and Ms B between May and August 2010. Garda A stated he was trying to cultivate Ms B as a tout and denied advising her to discard phones. Asst Comm McMahon described the contact volume as inordinate and excessive, noting the calls were made to a phone owned by Ms B's 11-year-old daughter. Although Ms B initially confirmed Keogh's claims of collusion in November 2017, she later withdrew her statement. Asst Comm McMahon recommended a board of enquiry, asserting the investigation was thorough rather than a delay tactic used to target Keogh. She also recommended a peer review of her own investigation for openness, following a complaint by her husband regarding threatening calls. The matter remains at the pretrial stage with no final determination reached.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Garda told investigation he was trying to cultivate drug dealer as "tout". Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 8 May Other
- May 2017 Other
- December 2018 Other
- 10 May Other
- 27 May Other
- 5 August Other
- November 2017 Other
- February 2019 Other
- 2020-02-17 Publication
Why: Gda Keogh also alleges that the length of time taken for the investigation into Garda A, which was concluded in February 2019, constituted an undermining or targeting of him because he was a whistleblower. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Accused
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Charge Or Pretrial
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