Watchdog: Gardaí too slow to co-operate

The Garda watchdog has criticised members of the force for being “slow” and “less than optimal” in co-operating with an investigation which ultimately led to two gardaí being convicted for assault and another for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) said yesterday some documentation it sought during an inquiry into allegations that a member of the public had been assaulted by gardaí in Waterford was obtained “at a very late stage” while some other documentation was not received at all.

It called on the Garda Commissioner to consider re-evaluating policy relating to the recording of calls to and from Garda stations.