Harris must turn his words into action for Horkan family – Kelly
Harris must turn his words into action for Horkan family – Kelly - The Labour Party
Labour justice spokesperson Alan Kelly TD has today called on Government to establish an independent public inquiry into concerns about Garda firearm holsters and the handling of related protected disclosures. Raising the matter with Tánaiste Simon Harris in the Dáil, Deputy Kelly welcomed his response but demanded action to secure answers for Detective Garda Colm Horkan’s family.
Deputy Kelly said:
“I welcome the Tánaiste’s response today. Government must now turn that response into action. The Horkan family deserve an investigation they can trust, with the independence, powers and scope to answer their questions.
“Garda Colm Horkan served the public and lost his life in the course of his duty. His family should never have to fight the State to establish what happened or whether those responsible for Garda equipment acted on warnings about its safety.
“The family have made clear that they have no confidence in referring this matter to Fiosrú. Their concerns deserve a serious response. GSOC, its predecessor, received warnings about these holsters before Colm’s murder. We need answers about why those warnings did not lead to effective action.
“There are also serious questions about Ministers’ handling of Superintendent Brian O’Reilly’s protected disclosures. I challenged both Ministers’ legal authority to redirect those disclosures after the Protected Disclosures Commissioner appointed the Department’s Secretary General to examine them.
“Those questions matter because people who report safety concerns must know that Ministers will respect their legal protections and ensure proper investigation. Gardaí must have confidence in their equipment and in the response when they raise concerns.
“The Tánaiste must now stand up for the Horkan family. Government must move the dial and establish an independent public inquiry, with a clear timetable. They have waited long enough for answers.”