Nicholas Keogh says he felt trapped after whistleblowing

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Garda Nicholas Keogh told the Disclosures Tribunal that he felt trapped in indoor duties after making a protected disclosure. The tribunal was examining how he was treated after that disclosure. The proceedings were reported on 17 October 2019.

Keogh said he had been assigned to desk-bound work at Athlone Garda Station in October 2015, which he described as the most stressful job in the station. He alleged that the move was connected to his whistleblowing.

Superintendent Patrick Murray said he assigned Keogh to indoor duty because of what he had observed of his condition. In a report shown to the tribunal, Murray noted that Keogh’s hands were shaking, that he could barely sign a form and that his condition had deteriorated. Murray said Keogh appeared to agree with the assignment; Keogh denied that there had been agreement.

Keogh also said his request to retrospectively cancel annual leave for a meeting with GSOC had been refused because of his protected disclosure. Murray said he regarded the application as vague.