Flanagan dismisses concerns over new Garda commissioner

Charlie Flanagan

Mr Flanagan made assurances that the former PSNI deputy chief constable had been vetted, amid criticisms that state security services had been unable to properly do so.

Dónall Ó Cualáin steps down from the role of acting commissioner today as Mr Harris takes the reins.

Last month, the High Court rejected a challenge aiming to block Mr Harris’ appointment. It was brought by the relative of a person killed during the Troubles.

Ciaran MacAirt had claimed Mr Harris lacked the independence needed for the role because of his previous post in the PSNI.

Furthermore, he said Mr Harris was bound by Britain’s Official Secrets Act, which made it hard for him to fully discharge his duties as Garda chief.

Defence force members and former gardaí are also concerned that Mr Harris, while an Irish citizen, worked in intelligence roles in a foreign state.

Mr Flanagan told RTÉ: “I see this as an attempt to somehow damage the commissioner even before he starts. I think it is very unfair,” he said.

“He has defended democracy and the rule of law all his professional life. His father was brutally murdered by enemies of democracy,” referring to the IRA’s killing of Mr Harris’ father 30 years ago in a car bombing.

Mr Flanagan, added: “We are not hiring a commissioner from North Korea or Russia. We are hiring a policeman from a police service on our island. We are hiring somebody whose track record we know to be sound.”