Garda whistleblower Nicholas Keogh has denied “rounding up people” to make complaints that a member of the force colluded with a drug dealer.
The Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle is probing 21 issues highlighted by the officer in 2014 which referred to Garda links to the illicit trade in Athlone, Co Westmeath.
Gda Keogh claimed senior officers discredited him when he made a protected disclosure.
It stated a colleague known only as Garda A, was helping a drug dealer, Ms B, in Athlone.
Gda Keogh claimed he was harassed after the disclosure with incidents over car tax, back pay, sick pay, delays in his case and deliberate micro-supervision of his daily duties.
He insisted it was an “extremely difficult time” as he remained stationed in Athlone and had to cross paths with Garda A while working the same shift.
One incident being probed by the tribunal relates to a woman visiting the station and alleging Ms B assaulted her daughter.
Gda Keogh claimed Olivia O’Neill insisted there was collusion in the town’s drugs trade when she engaged with him at the public counter.
The woman is also said to have alleged Ms B had been doing favours for officers.
Gda Keogh told the tribunal he decided it would have been a conflict if he took a statement from Ms O’Neill.
Another garda spoke to the woman and reported she had been advised by Gda Keogh to put any allegations relating to gardai and Ms B into her statement.
However, both Gda Keogh and Ms O’Neill have denied this happened.
He yesterday said he told Ms O’Neill to “name names and name guards” – but he stressed he did not advise her to name Garda A.
