Courts / Donegal / Report

Senior-ranking garda in Donegal denies deliberately not making note

Summary

A tribunal hearing in Donegal examined evidence from the most senior garda in the county regarding the investigation into allegations of domestic abuse against whistleblower Garda Keith Harrison. Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn directed Inspector Goretti Sheridan to begin the investigation on 29 September 2013, following a report from the mother of Garda Harrison's partner. During the hearing, Mark Harty SC, representing Garda Harrison, questioned the absence of a contemporaneous written record of Chief Superintendent McGinn's decision and the reasons for it. He referenced post-Morris tribunal directives requiring gardaí to maintain daily journals and document significant matters. Chief Superintendent McGinn denied deliberately omitting the note, stating that recording every decision as it occurred would be impractical. She maintained her tribunal statement provided context and that her appointment of the inspector was clearly evident. The only contemporaneous record of the appointment appeared in another superintendent's journal.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Senior-ranking garda in Donegal denies deliberately not making note. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 29 September 2013 Other
• 6 October 2013 Other
• March 2017 Other
• 2017-10-09 Publication

Why: There was no ulterior motive. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Domestic Abuse Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report