Alan Kelly claims Ministers ‘acted without legal authority’ over Garda whistleblowers

The Irish Times · Marie O’Halloran · 2026-11-05 19:13 UTC

Tánaiste says Jim O’Callaghan and Helen McEntee discharge duties ‘in line with best possible advice’

Labour justice spokesman Alan Kelly has said Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and his predecessor Helen McEntee acted “without legal authority” in their handling of Garda protected disclosures.

This is “very, very dangerous territory” and “potentially fatal” for the Government and it “needs to change course”, he said of the continuing controversy surrounding Garda whistleblowers.

He also said the family of Det Garda Colm Horkan, who was murdered in 2020, would not co-operate with any investigation by policing watchdog Fiosrú into the circumstances of his death in Castlerea, Co Roscommon. “They feel let down,” he said.

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