A Donegal Garda has said he alerted the Justice Minister about false allegations of child abuse years ago but claims he was ignored.
Donegal Garda Keith Harrison claims he suffered panic attacks after an alleged five-year campaign of bullying and intimidation.
Mr Harrison released a statement through his solicitor which also represented his partner Marisa Simms.
It says “Despite our nervousness and worry about doing so and the effect this will have on our future, we are forced to make a public statement to bring to the national attention our concerns and suffering.
“We similarly suffered at the hands of An Garda Siochana, have been reported to TUSLA and have been ignored when we raised the issues with Government.
“We have been writing to the Tanaiste in her capacity as Minister for Justice, continuously since June 2014 to bring our concerns to her attention, but we never received a response that gave us hope.”
They claim that they were ignored by the Minister.
The statement goes on: “It is our belief that Senior Management within An Garda Siochana set out to attack and destroy our family because I sought to speak out about malpractice within the force.
“In doing so they tried to discredit me, and also reported ‘concerns’ regarding the wellbeing of my partner’s children, leading to a TUSLA investigation, which investigation revealed no risk whatsoever.”
While serving in Athlone in 2009, Garda Keith Harrison prosecuted a colleague for alleged drink driving, despite opposition from senior officers.
Afterwards, he claims, he was subjected to bullying and harassment by colleagues and, despite an unblemished record, to unprecedented scrutiny.
This resulted in him facing 16 claims of breaches of discipline, four of which were upheld.
The statement released today lists the alleged treatment Keith Harrison and his family received.
1. Unwarranted and pronged overt and covert surveillance.
2. Victimisation and bullying.
3. Intimidation and harassment levelled at Keith Harrison and his family.
4. Unjustified referrals of Keith Harrison’s family to TUSLA by An Garda Siochana
5. Dissemination of rumour, innuendo and malicious falsehoods to certain members of the media, politicians and some of Keith Harrison’s Garda colleagues.
6. Deliberate frustration of GSOC’s investigation of Keith Harrison’s disclosures.
7. Disciplinary action and threat of criminal action against Keith Harrison.
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