Garda union seeks ombudsman for internal complaints

THE Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has insisted an ombudsman should have the final say in complaints from officers about their superiors.

In a hard-hitting submission to the Morris Tribunal, the AGSI claimed the force’s grievance procedure was fundamentally flawed with junior gardaí having little faith in the system.

The association criticised high-ranking officers, in particular disgraced former Superintendent Kevin Lennon who set up hoax IRA arms dumps in Donegal, for interfering in day-to-day policing.

The 2,200 strong officers’ union claimed top gardaí were stepping on sergeants’ toes, bullying them into pursuing certain lines of inquiry and were ultimately undermining the public face of the force.

AGSI said the force had a history of poor management, compounded by the failure of managers to take on board the views of sergeants. And the association warned there was nowhere to go to address the imbalance.

“In the absence of an independent, objective and transparent grievance procedure, the perception of members of sergeant and inspector rank is that they cannot expect a fair resolution of their grievances,” AGSI said.

Under the Garda Bill a three-person panel will act as ombudsman checking on the work of the gardaí.

AGSI claimed Lennon, whose corrupt career was exposed by the tribunal, used questionable policing methods in Raphoe by demanding checks on McBrearty’s nightclub every weekend.

It noted disquiet in the town over the inspections with newly promoted SgtSarah Hargadon, a former United Nations peacekeeper under increasing pressure, but she had no room to question her superior’s tactics.

“Sgt Hargadon presents as an honest, diligent and fair-minded garda. She found herself, however, operating in an environment (for which Supt Lennon must be responsible) where she found police practices being adopted which she considered inappropriate if not reprehensible,” the AGSI stated.