No political interference in running of the force, says country’s top garda

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan claims there is no political interference in the way the force is run and says he does not believe there is a need for an independent police authority to oversee it.

He was responding to claims made by the Garda Representative Association (GRA) yesterday that the force needs an independent police authority, like that in Britain, which will not be influenced by political masters.

“I have to say that since my appointment the minister [Alan Shatter] has never crossed that Rubicon and tried to interfere with what I do,” he said.