Rank-and-file gardaí snub Shatter

The body representing rank-and-file gardaí has confirmed it is not inviting Justice Minister Alan Shatter to its annual conference at the end of April.

The Garda Representative Association also confirmed its executive will decide in the next week whether or not to invite Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.

GRA president John Parker said the decision not to invite Mr Shatter to the conference in Westport had been made by grassroots members. It is the first time a garda association has not invited the minister to its annual conference.

The move came as the association representing Garda middle management said its legal team will defend four sergeants who are facing disciplinary proceeding for walking out of a conference as Mr Shatter and the Garda commissioner delivered speeches.

The sergeants, who have a combined 130 years of unblemished service, will appear before an assistant commissioner today to be questioned about the walkouts.

Mr Shatter yesterday sanctioned disciplinary procedures against Sergeants Joe Hanley, Tullow; Pat Baldwin, Kilkenny City; Ted Hughes, Thomastown; and John Foley, Carlow. They could face being stripped of the rank, fined, or suspended.

They walked out of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) annual conference in Sligo earlier this week after being mandated by their colleagues in the Carlow/Kilkenny division to do so.

They were also mandated to say they had no confidence in either the minister or commissioner.

AGSI general secretary John Redmond it was “outrageous that they would be threatened with discipline for bringing the views of their membership to delegates at the conference”.

Mr Redmond said he did not believe the commissioner had any right to investigate or prosecute AGSI members who were elected to voice the frustration over pay cuts already endured by members of the force. He said the sergeants had no option but to bring those views to conference because they were mandated to do so.

“Those brave people did what they were told to do by their membership. They should not be facing the threat of discipline.”

In an interview on RTÉ radio, Mr Shatter said it was a matter for AGSI members as to how they conducted themselves when guests are invited to address their conference and he would not comment on disciplinary actions the commissioner may take.

Meanwhile, the commissioner is awaiting a report to see if an off-duty garda could be disciplined after he confronted Enda Kenny in Ratoath, Co Meath, last Sunday about his pay and conditions.

Mr Parker said the garda was entitled to express his views to Mr Kenny.