Date 29 March 2013 Page11 SPEECH J Callinan MINISTER J
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Date 29 March 2013 Page 11 WALKOUT COPS By CATHAL McMAHON, Crime Reporter THE fourBACK gardai who walked out on GardaCALLINAN Com- missioner Martin Callinan have escaped punishment after apologising and retracting their comments. The sergeants caused a stir when they left the room as Commissioner Callinan and Justice Minister Alan Shatter rose to speak at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) conference in Sligo. Ted Hughes, Joseph Hanly, Pat Baldwin and John Foley said they were mandated by their members to make the move. They went on J SPEECH Callinan J MINISTER Shatter to say they had no confidence in Commis- been played out publicly. He added: “All sioner Callinan and his office. parties consider the matter now resolved and But after six hours of talks at Templemore look forward to continuing to serve the garda training college, Co Tipperary, community.” yesterday the four withdrew their Commissioner Callinan had earlier indi- comments. cated that he was willing to let the four A garda statement confirmed that the officers away without discipline so long as matter had been resolved. It added: “The four they apologised.. representatives of Kilkenny Carlow branch He said: “I have made my comments very of the AGSI indicated that they meant to cause clear in that respect and this is a time for no offence to the Commisioner. cool heads and it is a time for appropriate “They personally have full confidence in reflection on what happened.” the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána. The Earlier in the Dail Mattie McGrath TD said Commissioner enjoys the full confidence of that what was happening with the four the Association of Garda Sergeants and sergeants was totally unacceptable. Inspectors.” Mr McGrath said it was like living in a The spokesman insisted that the four military junta to have four gardai summoned members “regret” that this whole matter has to Templemore for disciplining. Copyright material. This may only be copied under the terms of a Newspaper Licensing Agency agreement (www.nla.co.uk) or with written publisher permission. For external republishing rights see www.nla-republishing.com Date 29 March 2013 Page 9 OFFICERS AVOID PUNISHMENT OVER WALKOUT meant to cause ‘no offence’ to the By Sandra Murphy Commissioner, and they ‘personally for cool heads’ have full confidence’ in him. It added: ‘The Commissioner enjoys the full FOUR Garda sergeants were last night told they won’t be punished confidence of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors. for staging walkouts on Justice ‘Members of AGSI will never shirk Minister Alan Shatter and Garda their responsibility to either the Commissioner Martin Callinan. Garda Commissioner or members of The officers, from the Kilkenny-Car- the public.’ low area, were criticised for leaving a The representatives of the Kil- Sligo conference this week before kenny/Carlow Branch regret that this speeches by their two superiors. whole matter has been played out on In the wake of their demonstra- TV and in the public arena, the state- tions, Sergeants Pat Baldwin, John ment said. ‘All parties consider the Foley, Joe Hanley and Ted Hughes matter now resolved and look for- were summoned to a meeting with ward to continuing to serve the com- the Assistant Garda Commissioner munity,’ it concluded. Fintan Fanning at the Garda College The diplomatic response to the in Templemore yesterday evening. walkout scandal echoed Mr Callinan’s The four men, who were attending reaction, in which he said: ‘Any com- the annual conference of the Associa- missioner would want to see disci- tion of Garda Sergeants and Inspec- pline maintained. tors, had argued they were mandated ‘This is a time now for cool heads to stage the walkouts by colleagues and appropriate reflection on what has happened, and a time for dealing in their division. with that and moving on.’ However, they angered Garda chiefs The AGSI had argued that the men by also stating that they had no con- should not face any disciplinary fidence in Mr Callinan. action, describing such steps as ‘out- Mr Shatter sanctioned action rageous’, because they were acting as against the sergeants on Wednesday. delegates, and representing the views Ahead of the meeting at 4pm yes- of its members. terday, Mr Callinan said the walkout If they were found by a disciplinary by his officers was inappropriate and board to have breached the force’s ‘should not have happened’. regulations, the men could have been The crunch meeting with the offic- suspended, fined or even demoted. ers lasted a lot longer than was pre- Meanwhile, Mr Callinan has dicted – as it was expected to con- revealed that he has sought a report clude at 4.45pm. In fact, it wasn’t into a separate incident where an off- until 10.30pm last night that a state- duty garda confronted Taoiseach ment was issued by the Garda press Enda Kenny when he was canvassing office, clarifying that the matter was in Ratoath for the Meath East by- resolved and no punitive action was election on Monday. being taken. It said the four men indicated they ‘This is a time now meant to cause ‘no offence’ to the Copyright material. This may only be copied under the terms of a Newspaper Licensing Agency agreement (www.nla.co.uk) or with written publisher permission. For external republishing rights see www.nla-republishing.com Date 29 March 2013 Page 9 Late-night talks: The four sergeants being driven away after meeting Copyright material. This may only be copied under the terms of a Newspaper Licensing Agency agreement (www.nla.co.uk) or with written publisher permission. For external republishing rights see www.nla-republishing.com - 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - - 5 -.