Conroy hits back at criticism of gardaí

GARDA Commissioner Noel Conroy yesterday hit back at criticisms of him and the force by the head of the Garda watchdog.

Chairman of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board, Gordon Holmes, claimed Mr Conroy had failed to take action in the majority of cases involving minor breaches of discipline by gardaí referred to him by the board.

Launching the board’s 2006 annual report on Wednesday, Mr Holmes accused the commissioner of vetoing its decisions.

The chairman also said the force and individual gardaí were completely unable to apologise to members of the public where they made genuine mistakes.

In a lengthy statement on behalf of Mr Conroy, Garda press officer Superintendent Kevin Donohoe said: “The chairman notes in his introduction that the Gardaí have an inability to apologise for mistakes. This is rejected by An Garda Síochána.

“In many instances, individuals or the organisation have apologised for wrong-doings. However, in each case, the Garda Síochána, as with all other agencies, are guided by their legal advisers.

“Where actions by members of An Garda Síochána are genuinely bona fide mistakes the Gardaí have no problem in apologising, provided such an apology does not in any way affect any future legal proceedings.”

Responding to complaints by Mr Holmes that gardaí refused to use the informal resolution mechanism to deal with complaints, Supt Donohoe said this was a legal entitlement for gardaí and “entirely a matter for each individual”.

The commissioner strongly rejected claims by Mr Holmes that he failed to act on most cases of minor breaches of discipline referred to him.

“Section 7.4 of the Garda Síochána (Complaints) Act, 1986 provides for the board to refer complaints to the commissioner where the board are of the view that a breach of discipline may be disclosed and if so, that such a breach was of a minor nature,” said the statement.

“This is not a determination by the board and it falls to the commissioner to cause further enquiries to be carried out to finally determine whether or not a breach of discipline occurred.”

Supt Donohoe said consequently, there was no “right of veto”, as alleged.

He said of the 63 cases referred to the commissioner, disciplinary action was taken in 35 cases, with eight ongoing at the end of 2006.

“In the remaining 20 cases, the commissioner’s decision following full review was that no disciplinary breach was disclosed and no disciplinary action was warranted or could be supported.”

Supt Donohoe said the commissioner was “disappointed” by the rise in complaints deemed admissible in 2006.

But he said that the 814 complaints were in the context of more than one million interactions with the public.

Supt Donohoe said the force and the commissioner enjoyed a good relationship with the complaints board and Mr Holmes, and thanked him for his remarks on the good work of gardaí.