Call for Whistleblowers in the Kevin Tracey Case

national | crime and justice | news report Friday July 08, 2011 12:12 by Justin Morahan

Gardaí, judges, members of Courts Service and workers in DPP's Office asked to answer the call

Thirty one prosecutions of an innocent man, followed by perjury, cover up, scandalous conduct by judges, barristers, solicitors, Courts Service and DPP's office, assaults by Gardaí etc - there was a long story to tell about the shameless judicial system in Ireland outside our Houses of Parliament two days ago.

This story is one that could also come under the Rights and Freedom heading as well as under "Crime and Justice". Kevin Tracey has been the victim of criminal behaviour but he has also been deprived of his human rights and of freedom to live a normal life with his family in peace.

Kevin Tracey, in spite of severe illness, kept his promise to protest outside Dáil Éireann on Wednesday 6 July 2011. Sitting on a stool with his two posters, he attracted maximum attention on a busy day at Leinster House. On one of his posters he called for honest people within the institutions that have waged injustice on him to come forward as whistle-blower to reveal the extension of the corruption that exists in their own institutions.

Only for one brave woman whistle-blower in Donegal, the State scandals against Frank Shortt and the McBrearty family would never have been investigated or uncovered.

Five hundred copies of his press release (see Indymedia) were handed out to shocked members of the public.

Among those who visited him were numerous victims of the courts and their relatives, human rights and anti-war activists, hundreds of "ordinary" honest citizens and tourists as well as TDs, Senators, and a Presidential hopeful.

In a coincidence almost too good to be true, an Inspector of the Gardaí approached to "welcome " him while he was explaining to Eric Byrne TD that he had been set up by Gardaí. Without missing a beat, Kevin turned to the Inspector and said "And this man was responsible for a lot of it".
The tall Inspector took off his cap, looked up to heaven and pleaded innocence but then left abruptly.

Also among the visitors was Thomas Pringle TD son of Peter Pringle who had been on radio the previous morning, telling of how he had be wrongly convicted in the 70s for the murder of a Garda, the last person in Ireland to be condemned to death. Another was Mattie MCGrath TD who spent a lot of time listening. Many, promised to keep in touch or get back to Kevin

There was also support from anti-war campaigners Colm Roddy and June Kelly. Peter Preston who himself had had two protracted hunger strikes outside the same Dáil a few years ago also gave strong support throughout the protest.The shock on the faces of many visitors as Kevin and his friends recounted the bones of his story was palpable

It is the "State", in my name and yours, that has brought all the malicious prosecutions against Kevin Tracey, the "State" that has covered up, the "State" that has fought bitterly to prevent the wrongdoing from beng undone in the courts. When, I wonder, will the State stop harassing Kevin Tracey and his household, repent of its crimes, apologise for its wrongdoing and try to repair some of the damage done before it loses all credibility in the eyes of its citizens?

This report is based on my observations throughout most of the protest and any errors or omissions are regretted. I would welcome contacts from those criticised in the report who wish to reply to those criticisms in an open forum outside of the Courts system