Call for ‘intrusive’ oversight of informant system

The Garda Ombudsman has called for “intrusive and independent” oversight of the Garda system for handling informants in a special report to the justice minister.

The watchdog said the absence of rules on the use of informants in Garda operations meant there were no limits on what criminality informants were authorised to engage in.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) wants direct access to the Garda Pulse comp-uter system “immediately”, because of “unacceptable” delays in accessing records and documentation.