As the scandal surrounding an email recieved by Táiniste Frances Fitzgerald containing details of the then under inquiry Maurice McCabe deepens, more details are emerging about a lack of duty and competence in the handling of sensitive information surrounding the case.
Brendan Howlin appeared on Déise Today this morning to discuss the current controversy engulfing the government and threatening Fitzgerald's position as Leo Varadkar's second in command.
When discussing the mishandling of the information and Fitzgerald's excuse Howlin stated, "despite all the public utterances from the Justice Minister at the time, Frances Fitzgerald, and the Garda Commisioner Noirín O'Sullivan, that he (Maurice McCabe) was a decent man, that he would have full legal protection and that matters would be investigated fairly and without any attack on himself...then behind the scenes in the O'Higgins commision the then Garda commisioner set about through her legal team undermining him again."
He then further explained that the then Minister Fitzgerald was informed through email of this through the office of the Attorny General and then "cleary did nothing with it and her defence now is that she forgot it."
According to Howlin this sort of conduct "beggars belief that on an issue that was at the heart of all this controversy, where her predecessor and previous Garda Comissioner had resigned ".
He once again repeated the sentiment stating "an email like this that was circulated through the Attorny General secretary and through her office to go unnoticed or unread or unresponded to beggars belief".
You can listen to the full interview below:
https://soundcloud.com/wlrfmwaterford/labour-leader-brendan-howlin-on-francis-fitzgeralds-email-scandal
