Rank-and-file gardaí ‘should demand reform of force’
Branding Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy as out-of-touch with the scale of public disquiet, Mr Rabbitte insisted a wide-ranging garda overhaul was the only way forward.
Attacking the Garda Representative Association for living in “denial”, he appealed directly to officers to accept change was coming and embrace it.
Labour and Fine Gael are to unveil proposals for a major shake-up of the garda and justice system which is likely to see the newly-appointed Garda Inspectorate replaced with a powerful civilian-led Garda Authority.
Mr Rabbitte accused Commissioner Conroy of failing to understand the damage done to the force by the findings of a series of tribunal probes and called on ordinary guards to speak out.
“I believe the thousands of diligent policemen and women ought to assert their voice,” Mr Rabbitte said.
“Change is coming and they may as well row in with that change.
“It’s in their interests and it’s in the interest of our society, and good policemen and women doing an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay ought to assert their voice in the force,” the Labour leader added.
Mr Rabbitte said a number of revelations about garda indiscipline and corruption had deeply shaken public confidence in the force.
He described the garda commissioner’s response to the latest Morris Tribunal report as belated and disappointing.
“There is acute public concern out there and I am disappointed at the remarks of the garda commissioner, who finally came out after two weeks to respond to the latest Morris report, and I’m afraid he doesn’t appreciate the scale and depth of concern about the events that have come to light,” Mr Rabbitte said.
The Labour leader accused the Garda Representative Association of having an attitude where they “circle the wagons and go into denial” whenever legitimate criticism was levelled at the force.
The Rainbow parties are believed to want to remove policy strategy from the Department of Justice, if they win power at the General Election expected next May.
They feel the radical move is necessary in light of five damning reports into garda activity by the Morris Tribunal, the Barr tribunal and the Birmingham inquiry.
Mr Rabbitte said the report on the wrongful charging of Dean Lyons with a double murder further underscored the need for change.
The setting up of a Garda Authority was first proposed by Labour in 2000.
It would shape garda policy and strategy in tandem with the garda commissioner independent of Government and be modelled on similar bodies in Britain.
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