arda Commissioner Drew Harris has declined to clarify his comments on Sinn Féin and the IRA, where he stated last week that the force holds the same view as the PSNI.

A report published by the PSNI states that it is its view that both Sinn Féin and the IRA are strategically overseen by the Provisional Army Council.

“I’ve no regrets and I think my comments were entirely clear so there’s no need for a clarification,” he told reporters at a meeting with the Policing Authority yesterday.

“I would never engage in political interference and my comments require no clarification.

“I think it’s obvious that I do stand over those comments,” he said.

“I outlined [his position on Sinn Féin and the IRA] on Friday and I have no intention to further clarify or amplify those comments.

“As Garda Commissioner I did provide the position of An Garda Síochána.”

Mr Harris was at a Garda passing-out ceremony at Templemore College in Co Tipperary last week where he was reported to have said the Garda’s view of the relationship between the Provisional Army Council, the IRA and Sinn Féin was the same as that of the PSNI.

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‘I have no regret Harris ‘stands over’ his comments on Sinn Féin and IRA

Court case taken to stop Drew Harris becoming Garda Commissioner…….

A relative of a person killed in one of the worst atrocities committed during the Troubles has brought a High Court challenge aimed at preventing the appointment of PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Drew Harris as the next Garda Commissioner.

The action has been brought by researcher Ciaran MacAirt whose grandmother Kathleen Irvine was one of 15 people killed when a loyalist bomb exploded at McGurk’s Bar in Belfast in December 1971.

In his action, Mr MacAirt says Mr Harris lacks the independence required to be Garda Commissioner due to this role in the PSNI and its predecessor the RUC.

Represented by Gerard Humphreys Bl, instructed by McGeehin Toale Solicitors claims Mr Harris could not direct or control any ongoing investigation into the murder of an Irish citizen where there is credible evidence of collusion between the killers by the RUC or agencies of the British state, including the Dublin Monaghan bombings.

Counsel said it is believed the appointment will take place in September.

Official Secrets

He claims that due to his senior role with the PSNI Mr Harris has possession of information directly relevant to Garda investigations into the murder of Irish citizens during the troubles.

He claims Mr Harris has signed and is bound by the UK’s Official Secrets Act making it impossible to fully discharge his duties as the next Garda Commissioner.

This conflict it is claimed is incompatible with the duties of Section 5 of the Garda Síochána Act, in particular to state security and the investigation of crime.

Mr MacAirt, who says he was shocked by the decision to appoint Mr Harris, says he has written a book about and researched the McGurk’s bombing and is a director of the charity Paper Trail which supports victims and survivors of the Troubles.

He claims that he has been trying to establish the truth behind the bombing.The RUC initially blamed it on an IRA bomb being accidentally detonated when in fact the bomb was deliberately planted in the bar by the UVF.

One of their members, Robert Campbell was jailed for the atrocity in 1977.

RUC cover-up

However Mr MacAirt says there was never a proper investigation into the bombing, and claims there was RUC cover-up in regards to what happened.

He claims his efforts to find the truth have been frustrated by the PSNI, and have been consistently obstructed by Deputy Chief Constable Harris.

It is claimed that as part of his role with the PSNI Mr Harris had responsibility the PSNI’s Historical Enquiries Team, which investigated the bombing. It produced four reports, which Mr McAirt says Mr Harris had the final say over, into the bombings.

The four reports he said were all rejected by the victims of the bombing as the allegations of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the RUC were not addressed.

Mr Harris’s role in that investigation into the murder of Irish citizens he says makes it impossible for him to hold the position of Garda Commissioner.

In his action against the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General Mr McAirt seeks various orders including one quashing the decision to appoint Mr Harris as Commissioner of An Garda Síochána.

In the alternative, he seeks an order preventing Mr Harris having any role in the direction and control of the Garda investigation into the murder of Irish citizens where there is credible evidence of collusion by the RUC or other agencies of the British state in the murder.

He also seeks declarations that the Irish State is obliged to conduct independent investigations murders of Irish citizens where there is credible evidence of collusion.

He further seeks a declaration that due to his obligations under the UK’s Official Secrets Act and his role in the protection of the PSNI, the RUC and other agencies of the UK Mr Harris would be incapable of controlling an independent investigation into the murder of those Irish citizens where collusion was alleged.

The matter came before Ms Justice Miriam O’Regan at Friday’s sitting of the High Court. The Judge granted permission, on an ex-parte basis, for Mr MacAirt’s lawyers to make an application for leave to bring his judicial proceedings on notice to the State respondents.

The matter will return before the court on Tuesday.

Fred Bassett’s Summary: The appointment of Drew Harris as Garda Commissioner not just shocked the Republic in the South but it also shocked a lot of people across the Globe. Listening to Drew Harris yesterday at a press conference I noticed Drew Harris was very defensive and he never spoke more than three lines but what came out was the way Harris kept repeating himself. “I don’t have to clarify anything to you” which in effect means he was telling the Press and the Irish people I am in charge here and all of you are my subjects. The problem here which should be addressed is the Timing of the Drew Harris statement at Templemore College, alongside Charlie Flanagan. HARRIS SPOKE THE WORDS IN FRONT OF OVER 140 RAW RECRUITS THAT SINN FEIN STILL HAD LINKS TO THE PROVISIONAL IRA AND THAT THE IRA AND THEIR ARMY COUNCIL STILL EXIST IN STRUCTURE BUT MUCH SMALLER. IF THIS IS NOT INTERFERING IN IRISH POLITICS, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY NOT? THIS IS BLATANT AND AGAIN I REPEAT MYSELF THE TIMING OF THE DREW HARRIS STATEMENT IS SO OBVIOUS EVEN THE PRIMATES NEXT DOOR TO GARDA HQ IN THE ZOO WOULD FIGURE THIS ONE OUT.

Let us go back to the cost of keeping Drew Harris in the post as Garda Commissioner. There is round the clock protection, specialised bullet proof jeep, accommodation (secure) and again security around the clock. Between salary and security, Drew Harris in his role crossing the border from RUC/PSNI to Garda Commissioner is approximately £1.2 million per year between his salary and the cost of his personal security. It is my humble guess that Harris is the most expensive Cop in Western Europe. The question is – Is he worth it? Also, his comments have raised many eyebrows and many qualified people are stating that it was a blatant interference at the time of the formation of the next Government. Flanagan, the failed Minister for Justice, who still cannot take control of Drogheda and Longford from Drug Gangs should come out also and clarify a few matters. Crime is a growing concern across this country at present and Drugs sadly are here to stay along with Gangland and the people who launder their money. Drew Harris is in the post almost 18 months and I don’t see many changes in the level of crime across Ireland – actually the truth is that it is worse. Watching Crime Call a few days ago, it really was scary to see homes broken into by armed men, families held hostage, and the increase in knife culture and assaults across the Island. What more can one add to this? The comments, again I repeat, were politically motivated and the timing – well I will let the people reading this blog tonight make up their own minds. Fred