Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

First of all, I appreciate the Deputy raising what is a serious issue, without question. I read part of that report yesterday. I cannot say I was aware of that as Taoiseach back then but there was a lot happening. The Deputy has just asked me right now. Having looked at the report yesterday, obviously the Garda must have put this individual forward for the Scott medal of bravery in respect of the kidnapping of Don Tidey, which, as the Deputy knows, resulted in the murder of Private Kelly and a Garda recruit who was just a recruit from Templemore, Garda Sheehan. They were murdered by the Provisional IRA. In fact, the murderers were subsequently lauded too by that organisation and by their political supporters, which does not excuse what happened here but that should also sometimes get mentioned in reference. We owe a tribute to Tommy Conlon and Ronan McGreevy who wrote a very honest book about the kidnapping of Don Tidey and the brutal murder of a garda and an Army person.

That said, I too would question. I do not want to talk about an individual who is not in the House, but there are factors that the Deputy has articulated in respect of the Morris tribunal, which we are all very familiar with. That tribunal was the catalyst for a lot of change within An Garda Síochána. Some appalling acts were uncovered by the Morris tribunal, no question about that, and the conclusions were very stark and grave indeed. So, in the context of that, yes, I think it is a fair question to ask. That is a matter that happened quite a number of years ago. I think it has surfaced now because of the presidential election, if we are all honest. It was written in such a way to target an officeholder at the time. There are nonetheless legitimate questions. I would accept that. Obviously, a person is dealt with in terms of either a tribunal or subsequent actions to a tribunal, but then in relation to other acts of bravery that a person may have committed separate altogether from the misdeeds that the person may have committed, is the person entitled to that award? Particularly in the context of domestic violence and the horrific nature of the violence in this case, I think that is a very fair point to raise. I certainly would have issues with that myself as well.

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