Tribunal proved need for Garda reforms

THE final witness gave evidence before the Morris Tribunal this week, but when the inquiry began more than five years ago, it convened against a backdrop of some of the most serious allegations ever made against the gardaí — a force which had not been significantly reformed since the establishment of the State.

To date, five reports have been made public, while up to another five reports are expected next spring.

But in 2005, by the time some of the most important findings of the tTribunal had been made public in report two, the then minister for justice Michael McDowell announced the most far-reaching reforms of the gardaí ever to take place.