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Judge asks for information on allegation that garda photographed whistleblower in court
Summary
Supt O'Reilly, the applicant, appealed a November Dublin Circuit Civil Court decision to the High Court, where he alleged he was penalised by the Garda Commissioner's office after making protected disclosures regarding unsafe leather holsters. He claimed these defective holsters, supplied by a Kildare saddlery, allowed a pistol to be removed even when the retention strap was closed, potentially contributing to the accidental self-wounding of a Garda at the Israeli ambassador's residence in June 2020. Six days later, Stephen Silver murdered Gda Colm Horkan using the garda's own gun in Castlerea, Co Roscommon. Silver was sentenced in April 2023 to life imprisonment with a minimum time to be served of 40 years for murdering a Garda acting in the course of his duties. During the current High Court hearing, counsel for Supt O'Reilly raised a separate allegation that Supt Liam White shared a prohibited photograph taken inside a courtroom of Supt O'Reilly and three accompanying individuals. Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins asked parties with knowledge to write to the court and stated he would review the relevant prohibitions. The matter was adjourned to May 19 for further submissions.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Judge asks for information on allegation that garda photographed whistleblower in court. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 19 Adjournment
- March 26 Adjournment
- May 19 Adjournment
- April 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-05-06 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Outcome: Silver was sentenced in April 2023 to life imprisonment with a minimum time to be served of 40 years for murdering a Garda who was acting in the course of his duties.; Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins at the High Court adjourned the matter to May 19 for further submissions.
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