Gardaí not required to video record interviews

GARDAÍ are not obliged to use video recording equipment when interviewing suspects, according to one of Ireland’s leading experts in criminal law.

Even when suspects request it, the interrogators are under no legal obligation to record interviews, according to Professor Dermot Walsh, director of the Centre for Criminal Justice.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has said he wants to make the use of video recording compulsory in view of the collapse of recent, high-profile trials where statements given to gardaí were later disputed or retracted.

Although the gardaí maintain that it is in their interest to use the facilities, Professor Walsh said there had been a lot of foot-dragging by the force since regulations enabling video machines to be used were first introduced in 1997.

“The guards maintain that a significant number, if not most, suspects, do not want to be recorded. I’m doubtful about that. In Britain, virtually all interviews are recorded.”

Video recording equipment has now been installed in 220 interview rooms in garda stations around the country, following a pilot test that ran for nearly eight years up to 2000.

“All garda stations now have video facilities,” a spokesman for the Department of Justice said yesterday.

However, Labour Party Justice spokesman Joe Costello said many stations have multiple interview rooms and are, therefore, still not fully equipped.