Current and former members of An Garda Síochána, including key staff attached to the force’s internal whistleblowing unit, have alleged that reports of misconduct and safety concerns were ignored and sidelined by senior management, according to a report by RTÉ Investigates.

The revelations feature in the documentary "RTÉ Investigates: The Gardaí – Full Disclosure," reported by journalist Rita O'Reilly. The Protected Disclosures Office was established in 2017 following major policing controversies, with the aim of providing a confidential and fair framework for employees to raise concerns regarding internal wrongdoing.

Former case handlers Donal Corcoran, who served in the force for 25 years, and Rose Sweeney, a former senior civilian principal officer and head of the Garda National Youth Diversion Bureau, alleged that the protections designed for whistleblowers were undermined. Both Corcoran and Sweeney told RTÉ Investigates that they were penalized and ultimately forced out of their roles for attempting to safeguard officers who came forward with disclosures.

The investigation also details claims made by Detective Superintendent Brian O'Reilly, head of the Garda Technical Bureau, who was assigned responsibility for the Firearms Section in 2019. Det Supt O'Reilly raised protected disclosures regarding a standard-issue gun holster supplied to over 1,600 armed officers, alleging that defects in the holster contributed to a serious injury to one armed officer and the capital murder of another. The documentary further examines broader firearms management issues, including concerns that a sawn-off pump-action shotgun was improperly taken from Kildare Garda Station and returned to criminal circulation.

Commenting on the findings, former Minister for Justice Senator Michael McDowell stated that the individuals involved had been handled in a disgraceful manner that required immediate halting.

In response, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána defended the force's whistleblowing framework, stating that the organisation is fully committed to maintaining the integrity of protected disclosures. The spokesperson noted that internal reporting mechanisms have been strengthened in recent years alongside enhanced training and external partnerships, and added that allegations concerning firearms safety and property management are taken seriously by leadership.