Calls for gardaí to be run by an independent body

THE general secretary of the Garda Representative Association has accused officials within the Department of Justice of political interference in the running of the force.

In a strongly worded attack, PJ Stone said he wanted to see the introduction of an independent Police Authority which wouldn’t be accountable to the department.

Mr Stone said he was basing his comments on the recent arrest of a Dublin-based journalist following a complaint made directly to the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, from a senior official in the department.

“I’m not suggesting that the complaint wasn’t legitimate but it could have been made by the man to his local garda station,” Mr Stone said.

He also pointed out that an independent interview board was recently asked to interview candidates for a senior job in the force and then had to provide three potential names directly to the department.

The general secretary blamed the Garda Siochána Act of 2005 for giving department officials the power to interfere in the day to day running of the force.

“We want an independent Police Authority to run the Garda Siochána like the ones they have in England and Northern Ireland. This wouldn’t be open to the potential of political control.”

Mr Stone was quick to point out that he wasn’t levelling accusations of interference against Justice Minister Michael McDowell but he said the power to interfere was open to any of the minister’s successors and the GRA was anxious to talk to whoever formed the next Government to resolve the issue.

“It would be fair to say the problem is that Mr McDowell has not engaged with us (on this issue) in the past,” Mr Stone said.