Gardaí lack mental health experts 3 years after report

THE gardaí still do not have formal mental health expertise available to them to deal with barricade incidents, three and a half years after the Garda Inspectorate urgently called for it.

The inspectorate published a report on barricade incidents in February 2007, on the back of the Barr Tribunal report into the shooting dead by gardaí of armed manic depressive John Carthy in April 2000 in Abbeylara, Co Longford.

Yesterday, the inspectorate said only three of its 84 recommendations remain outstanding. “These relate to the need for formal arrangements for a team of mental health professionals to support the Garda Síochána at barricade incidents.

“The inspectorate exhorts all concerned to work towards having formal arrangements in place without further delay.”

In one recommendation, the inspectorate had said a clear memorandum “must be concluded without further delay” between the Garda and the HSE on the assignment of mental health professionals in support of Garda negotiators. The inspectorate said discussions were ongoing and informal arrangements still applied.

Willie Gleeson of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said: “The AGSI would be in full agreement that these recommendations should be implemented as soon as possible. It would be very important to have that expertise anytime there is a critical incident.”

Fine Gael deputy spokesman on health Dan Neville said: “There is an urgency for mental health professionals to be ready for a situation that could arise.

“There should be a lot more urgency to finalise these arrangements.”