Gardaí refuse to co-operate with inquiry

MORE than 120 gardaí on duty during the Reclaim the Streets demonstration, refused to co-operate with an inquiry into the conduct of members of the force.

Despite seven gardaí facing criminal prosecution and a further 28 facing internal disciplinary action, none of the 125 gardaí on duty in Dublin during the May Day riots gave any evidence that members were involved in any

action that might constitute a breach of discipline.

Chief executive of the Garda Complaints Board Gordon Homes, who carried out the report into the handling of the rally, said they were “very disappointed” with the response of most of the members contacted by its investigators. Speaking on the lack of co-operation, Mr Holmes said: “It may speak well of their loyalty to their colleagues but, unfortunately, it does not speak well of their loyalty to the Garda Síochána.”

Mr Holmes said a further seven or eight gardaí could have faced disciplinary action, but were not properly identified.

He described the handling of the march and demo as a “disaster for the garda overall”. Forty-one complaints received following the Dame Street battle were admissible under the Garda Complaints Act of 1986, although four of these were subsequently withdrawn. The complaints were investigated by retired Assistant Commissioner James McHugh.

Mr McHugh completed his investigation in October and handed over his report to Mr Holmes. That file was passed on to the Director of Public Prosecutions who decided to take prosecutions against seven garda members under Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person laws.

The board has deferred complaints in relation to these seven pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. Disciplinary proceedings will be taken against a further 28 members, including 23 who were identified by

complainants and through video evidence as they were not wearing identification numbers.

“In that regard, the board took account of the fact that in the course of Mr McHugh’s investigation, the members concerned had been afforded the opportunity to explain why they were not wearing appropriate identification but had chosen not to,” the report concluded.

It continued: “A further aspect of the investigation the board examined was that, save with limited exceptions, garda members who were on duty at the march failed to make statements to the investigation team, despite having been invited to do so.”

Other outstanding matters in connection with the march and demo have still to be considered by the board. The May march became violent as groups of demonstrators swung into Dame Street. Cameras captured gardaí, with no identifying letters or numbers, hitting demonstrators.