Rose Conway-Walsh: Exposes Disclosure Orders Blocking Justice
Rose Conway-Walsh spoke about failures in the protected disclosure system relating to Angarda Shikona and Forsu, arguing that disclosure orders repeatedly delayed criminal proceedings and left whistleblowers exposed. She called for urgent reform of the Protective Disclosures Act to guarantee confidentiality during criminal proceedings and prevent the law being weaponised against victims.
Acknowledgement and context
She thanked the Technical Independent Group for bringing the motion, commended members of Angarda Shikona who serve with dignity, and acknowledged those in the gallery and families affected by these cases. A constituent reported domestic violence by a serving member of Angarda Shikona and a criminal investigation was opened.
Sequence of events and delays
Separately, the constituent made a protected disclosure to Forsu alleging interference, protection and cover-up by colleagues within Angarda Shikona and systemic issues around impartial investigations of domestic violence. Every time the protected disclosure progressed, the defence obtained a disclosure order, and the criminal trial was repeatedly delayed. Forsu was forced to put the protected disclosure investigation in abeyance and the whistleblower was left exposed.
Consequences for the investigation
After a guilty plea the investigation resumed, but crucial parts could no longer be examined because time had passed while disclosure orders delayed proceedings. Once the protected disclosure was disclosed to the accused and the organisation it alleged, the speaker said an impartial investigation became impossible - evidence can be shaped, witnesses influenced, and records altered or destroyed.
Criticism of government failings
The speaker characterised this as a systemic failure of law, protection and leadership that punishes the brave and protects the powerful. She said the government has known about the gap but continues to send a chilling message that speaking up about criminal activity in Angarda Shikona risks punishment rather than exposure of wrongdoing.
Calls for legislative reform
She demanded urgent, meaningful reform of the Protective Disclosures Act - including guaranteed confidentiality even during criminal proceedings, preventing disclosure orders from destroying investigations, protecting whistleblowers from retaliation, delays and exposure, and ensuring the law cannot be weaponised against victims.
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I want to thank the Technical Independent Group for bringing forward this motion today, it is very important. I want to thank those in the gallery who have paid the price, and their families and those who are not with us today. I think Deputy Buckley rightly remembers those who are no longer here. We are here today to confront a profound failure, a failure of law, a failure of protection, and a failure of leadership. A failure that punishes the brave and protects the powerful. A failure that tells every ordinary person in this state, do not speak up, or you will pay the price. Today I want to speak about protected disclosures in Angarda Shikona, and at the outset I want to commend the members of Angarda Shikona who serve the force and serve this country with dignity and dedication. A constituent reported domestic violence by serving Angarda Shikona. A criminal investigation began. Separately, this constituent made a protected disclosure to Forsu, detailing interference, protection and cover-up by some colleagues within Angarda Shikona. This disclosure also highlighted systemic issues around the ability of some members of Angarda Shikona to impartially investigate cases of domestic violence. What followed exposes the deep inadequacy of our legislation. Every time the protected disclosure progressed, the defence made a disclosure order. Every single time. The criminal trial was delayed again and again. Forsu had to put the protected disclosure investigation in abeyance, effectively frozen. The protections promised by this government were suspended, and the whistleblower was left exposed, vulnerable, punished for their honesty. After the guilty plea, the investigation resumed, but crucial parts could no longer be examined because too much time had passed, delayed by the very process that was meant to protect whistleblowers. The law that was meant to protect this individual became the barrier to justice itself. The system failed them. And here is the hard truth. Once the protected disclosure was disclosed to the accused, the organisation it alleged wrongdoing against, an impartial investigation became impossible. I have seven and a half minutes. Evidence can be shaped, witnesses can be influenced, records can be altered or destroyed, justice can be quietly denied. This is not a minor flaw. It is systemic failure. The government has known about this gap, but still continue to send a very clear and chilling message. If you speak up about criminal activity in An Garda Chicana, you cannot be guaranteed that the wrongdoings will be exposed. If you show courage, the system may very well punish you for it. This is the reality, this is the message, and this is the government's failure. That is the message whistleblowers are hearing across this state, and it is a message that should shame any government that claims to stand up for transparency, accountability or justice. Urgent, meaningful reform is needed. The Protective Disclosures Act must guarantee confidentiality, even during criminal proceedings, prevent disclosure orders from destroying investigations, protect whistleblowers from retaliation, delays in justice and exposure, and ensure that the law cannot be weaponised against victims.
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