The Garda watchdog is reportedly investigating a claim that a garda whistleblower was followed by an unmarked garda car while attending a highly confidential meeting with GSOC officials.
According to RTÉ's 'This Week' programme, garda whistleblower Keith Harrison alleges that his private car was followed by an unmarked garda car as he was driving from Donegal to attend a meeting in a Galway hotel with officials from the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) last March.
Mr Harrison claimed that he recognised the car as one of several which he alleges have made regular drives past his Donegal home since he made a protected disclosure to GSOC two years ago.
He alleges that the surveillance is part of an ongoing campaign of harassment and unwarranted disciplinary procedures by members of the force after he arrested a colleague for suspected drink driving in 2009.
A spokeswoman for GSOC was unable to confirm whether the garda watchdog is investigating the surveillance claim due to confidentiality provisions under the Protected Disclosures Act.
RTÉ, however, reported that the investigation was revealed in documents it has seen, which revealed a highly secret meeting between two GSOC officials and the whistleblower. It reports that only four people were privy to information about the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Garda Press Office said it cannot comment on the investigation for the same reasons of confidentiality.
But a spokesman said gardaí had recently appointed Protected Disclosures managers to assist whistleblowers in making disclosures to GSOC.
Irish Independent
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