GRA protest over 'leaked' decision

GARDA representatives are to object to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) after RTÉ published the commission's decision on its complaint against a Prime Time report on alleged garda brutality before they had even seen it.

RTÉ yesterday broadcast details of the BCC's decision - which rejected the Garda Representative Association's complaint that the report was unbalanced and unfair.

An angered GRA yesterday said it still had not received the BCC's decision.

The BCC in turn criticised RTÉ for publishing details of the decision, which, it said, was their job.

In its ruling, the BCC said the subject matter of the programme was "not unfair or unjust" and that it was "presented in a balanced manner."

It went on to say that the gardaí were represented on the programme by an assistant commissioner and that reconstructions of garda beatings were clearly marked as reconstructions.

GRA general secretary PJ Stone said he was "disappointed" at the ruling, but was more angry at how it got out.

"I suppose what worries me is that I was the person who made the complaint to the independent broadcasting commission and yet it is apparent now that RTÉ were advised of the outcome before I was advised."

He said RTÉ had known of the decision last week, when the station publicised it at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy and AGSI president Joe Dirwan, all strongly criticised the programme at the conference.

Mr Stone said he would be making an official complaint to the BCC.

"I have to accept the finding of the commission, but I am going to express my concern that if one is to have confidence in an independent body it seems strange to me that the people I made the complain about be privy to the decision of the BCC before I was."

Anne O'Brien, secretary to the BCC, said the decision was sent out by post to both parties at the same time last Friday.