McDowell accuses garda group chiefs of ‘insolence’

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell yesterday accused garda representatives of being “insolent and disrespectful” towards the Garda Commissioner in the ongoing row over the Garda Reserve.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) had described as “shameful and unbecoming” the manner in which minister and the commissioner attended a conference of the British Special Constabulary in England, and comments they made while there.

GRA president Dermot O’Donnell last Sunday described the visit as a “PR stunt”, while the GRA general secretary PJ Stone described it as a “junket”.