A Donegal Garda will have to pay the legal costs for his failed attempt to quash findings made by the Disclosures Tribunal against him.
Garda Keith Harrison had alleged that senior management in An Garda Síochána had directed a programme of harassment against him and his family.
The Letterkenny-based Garda also claimed and that a social worker from child and family agency Tusla visited their home after gardaí put pressure on social workers.
He also alleged he was the victim of a five-year intimidation campaign after arresting a fellow officer for drink driving in 2009.
But tribunal chairman Judge Peter Charleton said the allegations had ‘simply collapsed’ during the hearings at Dublin Castle.
Garda Harrison then took a High Court action to overturn the findings, claiming objective bias on the part of Judge Charleton.
However, his claim was dismissed by the court.
It noted that the claim was based on an alleged prior professional interaction between Judge Charleton and a witness, Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn.
High Court Judge Aileen Donnelly ruled that no reasonable person could have a reasonable apprehension of bias based on this.
The Court of Appeal also found that Gda Harrison had not established a case of objective bias, and said the High Court was correct in rejecting his claim.
Yesterday, Judge Seamus Noonan, of the Court of Appeal, said Mr Harrison, as the losing party, should pay the legal costs of his case.
“The appellant’s (Gda Harrison’s) submissions amount to little more than an attempt to re-argue issues fully aired both in this court and the High Court,’ he said.
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