THE garda commissioner has been urged to "act immediately" following the publication in a national newspaper of a garda whistleblower's identity.

Last weekend, the Sunday Times published the name of the whistleblower who made a confidential report alleging criminal malpractice against other gardaí in Cavan. The Sunday Times article followed revelations the week before in this newspaper about developments in the investigation into corruption in Cavan.

Brian McCarthy, a former secretary-general to the president, was appointed by the government to receive confidential information from gardaí who want to report corruption and wrongdoing in the force. Section 124 of the 2005 Garda Síochána Act clearly states the identity of gardaí who report alleged corruption in confidence must be protected.

Fine Gael's Charlie Flanagan said the publication of a garda whistleblower's identity would serve as a major deterrent for other gardaí to report malpractice. "It could do irreparable damage. Lifting the veil of anonymity could act as a deterrent for other gardaí to come forward," Flanagan told the Sunday Tribune. "This is a matter for the garda commissioner, who should lead an immediate investigation."

The Sunday Tribune revealed the garda whistleblower had made a complaint that he was physically res­trained and imprisoned by assistant commissioner Derek Byrne in a hotel in Co Monaghan last month. Byrne had been appointed to oversee an internal investigation after the whistleblower made a number of allegations against his colleagues in the Cavan area to McCarthy. Deputy commissioner Naice Rice has been appointed to investigate the allegations.