State should pay whistleblowers

For historical reasons, Irish whistleblowers face being labelled as informers. But elsewhere they are rewarded for information that nails white collar criminals, writes Elaine Byrne.

James Gogarty leaving the Mahon Tribunal: he was the first whistleblower to admit to corrupt payments to politicians.

Whistleblowers are the lifeblood of every investigation. The more complex the crime, the more necessary their insider information becomes.

The Mahon Tribunal was established because environmental campaigner Michael Smith and barrister Colm Mac Eochaidh co-sponsored a IR£10,000 reward for information leading to convictions for planning corruption. James Gogarty's response brought others out of the woodwork.

Tom Gilmartin's cooperation with the Mahon Tribunal was instrumental in prematurely ending the career of Ireland's most popular ...