A garda whistleblower has claimed efforts were made by other gardaí to discredit him after he made a protected disclosure alleging collusion by a colleague with a heroin dealer.

Garda Nick Keogh’s allegations prompted an internal Garda investigation in 2014, led by then assistant commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin.

But he told the Disclosures Tribunal allegations he was rounding up witnesses were later drummed up against him to affect his credibility in the Ó Cualáin probe.

Under examination from tribunal counsel Diarmaid McGuinness SC, Gda Keogh claimed “the chief’s office in Mullingar” was behind “stirring this”. Gda Keogh’s allegations have been rejected by Chief Supt Mark Curran, who is due to appear as a witness.

In a protected disclosure in May 2014, the whistleblower alleged a colleague, known as Garda A, was in a relationship with a female drug dealer in Athlone, known as Ms B, and colluded with her so she could avoid detection.

The tribunal heard how later that month a woman called Olivia O’Neill came to Athlone garda station to make a statement about an alleged assault on her daughter by Ms B.

Gda Keogh was on duty in the public office and told her he could not take her statement, but the tribunal heard there is a dispute over the content of their exchange.

According to Gda Keogh, Ms O’Neill alleged, spontaneously and of her own volition, there was police collusion in the drugs trade in Athlone and Ms B was “doing favours for guards”. He told the tribunal there would have been a conflict of interest if he took her statement, as he had made similar collusion allegations, and in any event the public office was busy.

Gda Stephanie Treacy was designated to speak to Ms O’Neill. She later reported Ms O’Neill claimed Gda Keogh advised her of the information to include in her statement, including allegations concerning gardaí and Ms B.

However, both Gda Keogh and Ms O’Neill deny this.

Under examination yesterday, Gda Keogh said: “What they are trying to do here is discredit me.”

Asked later who “they” were, he said he was referring to Garda management. Gda Keogh suggested the intention was to “get across” he was rounding up witnesses against Gda A, when this was not true.

The tribunal heard another Garda report contained a claim Gda Keogh tried to get someone to make a false allegation against fellow officers.

The June 2014 report by Gda Aidan Lyons said a man called Liam Hughes had claimed he was asked by Gda Keogh if he remembered being searched by three guards and having €800 stolen, which the officers later spent in a pub, a bookies and a casino.

“He [Gda Keogh] said if I wanted to make a complaint about it then he would back me up,” the report quoted Mr Hughes as saying. According to the report, Mr McHugh said the incident described had never actually happened.

The tribunal heard Gda Keogh was called into the office of his superintendent, Noreen McBrien, and that the matter was reported to Chief Supt Curran.

In his statement to the tribunal, Gda Keogh said there was “no rigorous follow-up or conclusion” to the allegation.

“It appeared to be just another false allegation left in the ether and used to blacken and cause apprehension in me,” he said.

Under questioning, Gda Keogh said he did not believe there was any meeting between Gda Lyons and Mr McHugh. He also said he believed other gardaí got Gda Lyons to write the report.

Mr McGuinness said the tribunal would be hearing from Gda Lyons later.

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