Minister calls on new gardaí to uphold values

YESTERDAY’S graduation ceremony at Templemore was a symbolic one: the first since the publication of the Morris Tribunal’s interim report on Garda corruption in Donegal.

That report branded Detective Garda Noel McMahon and Superintendent Kevin Lennon as corrupt liars who manufactured finds of explosives in Donegal to boost their careers.

Det Gda McMahon has tendered his resignation, while Supt Lennon is suspended from duty.

Under law, it is the Government which decides on the fitness to serve of superintendents and officers of higher rank. Therefore, the Cabinet will decide Supt Lennon’s fate in September after the summer recess.

The Morris report also criticised 17 other members of the force, either for negligence in failing to investigate fully the two men’s activities, or for being obstructive to the tribunal’s work.

Two of those 17, Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick and Supt John P O’Connor, have since taken early retirement.

A working group chaired by Deputy Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald was established to decide what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken against the remaining gardaí criticised in the report.

Yesterday, neither the Garda Síochána nor Mr McDowell were able to say when the group would finish its work.

But addressing the 167 new gardaí, the minister said the new inspectorate was being established in direct response to the Morris report.

And both he and Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy called on graduates to uphold the values of the force.

“I ask you not to do anything or engage in any behaviour to have the potential to alienate you from the people of the community you serve,” Mr Conroy said.

“I also ask you to attend to all members of the community in an impartial, sensitive and professional manner.

“As well as doing the right thing, you give good examples at all times. Police work is open to scrutiny more than any other type of activity.”