Reports of Donegal Garda’s tax evasion and fraud claims were not investigated, Dáil hears

Reports of tax evasion and social welfare fraud by a Co Donegal Garda were not investigated or followed-up, the Dáil has heard last evening.
Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty said that former garda Kieran Jackson had reported incidents of tax evasion by a now retired garda superintendent.
Deputy Doherty told the Dáil that in May 2001, a former Garda of the Donegal division met with two detective inspectors from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation in a hotel in Co Monaghan.
During this exchange, [Jackson] disclosed to interviewing detectives a number of very serious allegations against a former garda superintendent, since retired, who was also stationed in Donegal.
These allegations related to suspected tax evasion, social welfare fraud and persons being in possession of a fraudulent bank account into which thousands of pounds was being lodged regularly.
In September 2014, Jackson’s solicitor wrote to the then-acting Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan informing her of the allegations and expressing alarm over a lack of a follow-up.
In September 2016, Doherty told the Dáil that investigating Gardaí concluded that following an extensive search of files and records held locally and at Monaghan Garda station, no record of his complaint or of any subsequent investigation could be found.
He said the story raised serious questions around who took the decision to decide not to follow-up on Jackson’s claims, and why the Commissioner didn’t respond to the reports in 2014.