McDowell ‘trying to dismantle gardaí’

GARDA representatives yesterday accused Justice Minister Michael McDowell of trying to “dismantle” the Garda Síochána as part of a Thatcherite agenda.

The attack was made as the minister attended the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) in Killarney, Co Kerry.

Mr McDowell told delegates the law had to be implemented and warned gardaí they would arouse "public suspicion and hostility" if they continued to "hide behind a blue wall".

But in his address, AGSI president Paschal Feeney told the minister that middle-ranking officers would not co-operate with his "foolhardly, politically driven" garda reserve, which he described as a garda auxiliary force.

Speaking to Mr McDowell directly, Mr Feeney boldly claimed: "In fact, minister, we think that you are aiming to dismantle the garda service. We believe that you have a doctrinaire agenda and that agenda is fundamentally against any of the public services. You have a Thatcherite approach and, if you succeed, you will fundamentally damage the fabric of the garda service which has served this country well since 1922."

Mr McDowell said he could not see how he was being a Thatcherite since Britain's Special Constabulary upon which the reserve is modelled has existed for 175 years.

Mr McDowell said the AGSI and the Garda Representative Association had indicated in December 2004 that, as well as not co-operating with the reserve, they would not co-operate with any investigation involving the Garda Ombudsman.

Mr McDowell said it was not helpful for the AGSI to use the term auxiliary force, as it conjured up images of the term 'auxie' from the War of Independence.

He said it was not open to any member not to co-operate with the reserve, or any group to encourage or force such a policy.

Mr Feeney said there was "no question" of the AGSI breaking the law or their oath of office.