Special Garda unit set to target clerical sex abuse cases
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said the dedicated squad was part of a comprehensive policy on sex crime investigation being published in the coming days.
The Garda chief also said that Cardinal Seán Brady was not being investigated at this time in connection with his handling of sex abuse claims in 1975.
Mr Murphy announced the establishment of the Sexual Crime Management Unit at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) in Galway.
“The unit is being set up within the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, that’s where the expertise is, to ensure that throughout the country our investigations are being dealt with in accordance with best practice and they will be keeping records in relation to these crimes and will be reviewing a number of investigations from time to time.”
He said district officers would have the support that was required for “speedy investigations, early results and files to the Director of Public Prosecutions”.
The commissioner said this would try and ensure that “nothing slips through the radar”.
Mr Murphy said the unit would “maintain a record of all complaints of clerical sexual abuse” and deal directly with the Church and other agencies responsible for reporting complaints.
He said the unit, which will be up and running within weeks, was recommended in a review by Deputy Commissioner Martin Callinan following the publication of the Murphy and Ryan reports.
He confirmed that Gardaí were not looking into the Catholic primate’s handling of sex complaints from children against Fr Brendan Smyth in 1975.
“We are not investigating Cardinal Brady at this point in time,” said Mr Murphy.
The commissioner welcomed yesterday morning’s agreement in Dublin on pay and reform between the Government and public sector unions and associations, including the AGSI. He said it was the “first block” in building a stable industrial relations environment and said it was up to the Garda associations to come to a position.
On other issues, Mr Murphy committed that the same energy would be put into enforcing the upcoming laws on headshops as was being put into combating the illegal drugs trade. “I support the commitment on the part of the Government to legislate in this area and I can assure them that the same determination and commitment that has been demonstrated against drug trafficking and drug dealing will be applied to enforcement in this area.”
He noted that some chief superintendents had warned local headshop owners that they could be charged with reckless endangerment if anyone who takes their products comes to serious harm.
Mr Murphy said a Garda operation targeting theft of ATMs had so far led to 48 arrests.
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