Two senior gardai at the centre of the whistleblower controversy tell their story
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What motivated Brian O’Reilly and Donal Corcoran to join the Gardaí?
The Clare Byrne Show on Newstalk with Aviva Insurance.
And we're continuing our coverage of the Garda whistleblowers who've spoken out about protected disclosures in an RT Investigates documentary. We've heard on the programme from Deputy Garda Commissioner Paul Cleary. We also heard from retired Lieutenant Colonel Ray Lane. Before I came on air, I spoke to Dr. Donal Corcoran, formerly of the Protected Disclosures Office, and also Detective Superintendent Brian O'Reilly, the head of the Garda National Technical Bureau. both of whom claim that the protected disclosure system is completely dysfunctional. I started by asking them both to give us a sense of their careers, with Brian telling us why he decided to join the Gardaí.
Sure, Clare. Thanks so much for having us in this morning. I joined the Garda Síochána in 1993. I had completed a business degree, an honours business degree in business studies just before that, but I always had a desire to join on Garda Síochána. And I was fortunate enough that just as my degree came to a conclusion, I was able to go straight into Templemore the following week. As it happened, Deputy Commissioner Paul Cleary, who was on with you there only last week, Paul was the same group as myself. So we've the same level of service in the organisation. We've about 33 years, as he said the other day.
And yourself, Donal?
Yes, I joined on Garda Síocháin in 1999. I suppose as to the reasons why I joined, I had this desire to help people from the very beginning. And the guards was, as I saw it, an excellent opportunity to do
that. And Brian, you are a detective superintendent, head of the Garda Technical Bureau. You worked in intelligence. I mean, I think it's fair to say you're one of the most experienced Gardaí in the country. How does it sit with you that today you're here with me criticizing the force that you served with for more than 30 years, as you've told us?
Really difficult, Clare, to be honest with you. I have to say I was very fortunate in terms of the career that I had. I probably had exposure to opportunities that most Garda members have never had. And I feel privileged in that regard. But I never thought that I'd be sitting here in front of you today or in front of RT Investigates discussing matters like this and having to highlight serious wrongdoing in the organisation. Mm-hmm. And I should note our own organization, they've already acknowledged that the disclosures I have made are protected disclosures. And they have also acknowledged that those matters are serious and significant in nature.
And Donald, for you, I mean, your career, and people might know this, that you faced legal proceedings way back, reclaimed the streets, protest. I remembered myself as a journalist back in 2002. You were cleared. Very important to say that. But your face featured very widely and your case was discussed very widely. I presume you never wanted your face to be back on our TV screens again all of these years later. How does it all sit with you?
How do the guests describe the dysfunction of the protected‑disclosure system?
So it meant that the decision ultimately to raise concerns around this wasn't one I took lightly, but I felt they had no other position other than to speak out when I did. My role was that of statutory facilitator within the Protect Disclosures Office. I was the only facilitator within that office. I was the only one full-time assigned. And with that comes a responsibility. And the responsibility is to the disclosures and to the processes within that office. So when it came to the stage where the interference within that process became just unmanageable, I raised my own protective disclosure about it to senior garden managers. That ultimately fell on silence. And so I found myself in a position where I was being removed from the very function that I was trying to protect.
And I had no other choice but to come out. And doing so not just for myself, but for the preservation of the 153 case files that I dealt with across my time within that office.
See, Donald, I think a lot of people listening to this would have felt that after Maurice McCabe, that we had a protected disclosure system within On Guard the Shear Con and that was fit for purpose.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What motivated Brian O’Reilly and Donal Corcoran to join the Gardaí?
0:01–2:54
2
How do the guests describe the dysfunction of the protected‑disclosure system?
2:54–5:18
3
Why did Donal Corcoran raise a protected disclosure about interference in his role?
5:18–9:02
4
What specific incidents (defective holsters, Colm Horkin’s death) triggered whistleblowing?
9:02–12:09
5
How did senior Garda officials respond to the whistleblowers’ allegations?
12:09–14:34
6
Why was the independent expert Ray Lane blocked from the investigation?
14:34–17:52
7
What reforms and independent examinations do the whistleblowers demand?
17:52–20:27
8
What impact has the whistleblowing had on the careers and wellbeing of the guests?
20:27–22:44