GRA chiefs face rebuke for attack on politicians

THE leadership of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) have been called in today by Commissioner Fachtna Murphy for what is likely to be a stern dressing down over political attack on the Government at their annual conference in Limerick earlier this week.

The seriousness with which the Government and Garda management view the GRA attack was clearly set out by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and Commissioner Murphy when they spoke at a graduation ceremony in Templemore College yesterday.

Mr Ahern said the GRA owed the people of Ireland an apology over the disrespect they showed to the institutions of the state.

Commissioner Murphy said he had told the new president of the GRA, Damien McCarthy, and GRA general secretary, PJ Stone, that he wanted them in within 24 hours as it was something he had to deal with.

He said: “It is important that I, as commissioner, here in the presence of the minister of the day, state clearly that there is no place for gardaí in the cut and thrust of political rhetoric and debate. We must be conscious at all times not to compromise our independence by appearing to engage in the political arena.”

The minister and commissioner discussed the GRA attack at a private meeting before yesterday’s graduation. Mr Ahern said: “What happened over the last couple of days showed disrespect to the institutions of the state. These are the very people who have been given a special position under the constitution to enforce the law in relation to issues that they targeted in the speeches about corruption. So it’s completely different and from that point of view I think they owe the Irish people an apology for the disrespect they showed to the institutions of the state.”

Mr Murphy said: “I have made arrangements for the new president (of the GRA) and the general secretary to meet me within 24 hours to discuss these issues... I think I have made it loud and clear since this happened last Tuesday that I don’t support any adverse commentary about politicians or anybody else.

“Gratuitous comments about corruption has no place in the work of An Garda Síochána.

“We are in the business of investigating corruption and other crimes, not commenting on them, that’s where I stand. It is something I have got to deal with.”

Mr Ahern said the attitude of the GRA and their comments were wrong and this was borne out by cross-party comments in the Oireachtas on the affair.

He said: “As long as I am minister, and as long as this Government is in office, there will be no question of the GRA getting trade union status.”

Later in his address to the new gardaí, Commissioner Murphy said: “We should earn headlines for our successes and achievements rather than court controversy. We should root out corruption rather than engage in commentary on it. Above all, we should seek to put our own personal and political views to one side when we put on the uniform of An Garda Síochána and purposely address our energies to serving the community.”