McDowell looks to tackle garda corruption

GARDA members will be able to expose corruption and abuses within the force under a new confidential whistleblower charter.

Regulations on the charter — published yesterday by Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell — are designed to prevent any repeat of the garda abuses that occurred in Donegal in the 1990s.

Under the system, members of the force — including civilians — will have a safe way of reporting corruption or malpractice to an independent person appointed by the minister for justice.

Mr McDowell said gardaí will be able to expose wrongdoing without fear of retribution.

“It will mean an end to the cover-up and collusion witnessed in cases in the past. No longer will misplaced loyalty to corrupt bullies be allowed to supplant the loyalty all gardaí owe to the law, the people and An Garda Síochána.”

Speaking at a graduation ceremony in the Garda College in Templemore, he thanked the garda associations for their support.

John Egan, president of the Garda Representative Association, said they welcomed the development. “We are hopeful this charter will provide members who are aware of corruption a safe method of reporting it. If their concerns are genuine, they will have no fear of retaliation or intimidation.”

Dan Hanley of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said: “We do welcome it. Anything that will provide a mechanism where wrongdoing is eradicated is to be welcomed.”

Mr McDowell said the regulations go beyond the recommendations of the Morris Tribunal into garda abuses in Donegal.

He said there were three protections for persons who, in good faith, report corruption and malpractice.

“Firstly, their identity will be protected and will only be revealed in very limited circumstances where necessary for tackling the corruption or malpractice; secondly they can not be disciplined for making a confidential report, and thirdly anyone who seeks to bully or intimidate them for making a report will be open to disciplinary action.”

He said the commissioner may also appoint confidential recipients from employees of An Garda Síochána.

Some 254 gardaí, 170 men and 84 women, were presented with certificates at the ceremony.

These included Garda John Ryan, of Newport, Co Tipperary, who won the Commissioner’s Medal for the highest academic marks.

Commissioner Noel Conroy also launched the Cultural & Diversity Awareness Booklet and The European Convention of Human Rights Act Manual, drawn up in conjunction with the Irish Council of Civil Liberties. These documents will be made available to all gardaí.