Senior garda denies malice over referral of Harrison complaint

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

Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn told the Charleton Tribunal that a referral to the Garda Ombudsman was made in good faith and that she had no malice towards garda whistleblower Keith Harrison. The proceedings were reported on 9 October 2017.

In October 2013, Harrison’s partner, Marissa Simms, made a statement to gardaí alleging that he had threatened to “burn her” and “bury her”. She later withdrew the statement, but it had already been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).

Harrison had testified that he believed the referral was motivated by malice towards him. His counsel, Mark Harty SC, said senior officers had interpreted the Garda Síochána Act “beyond breaking point” when deciding to refer the statement under a section covering death or serious harm.

McGinn said her interpretation may have been wrong, but there were no ulterior motives. Harty questioned why she had not made entries in the officer’s journal and alleged that she wanted Harrison out of her division.

McGinn said her decisions were right at the time and that the steps she took were appropriate and measured. She said she had shown no malice to Harrison, who had returned to work in her division.