Officers ‘lost all confidence’ in Garda watchdog after court case comments

Frontline gardaí have lost confidence in their watchdog’s ability to run fair and impartial internal investigations, said a senior member of the Garda Representative Association.

Mick Corcoran, a GRA central executive committee member, said gardaí were angry at comments by the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) after two gardaí were cleared of wrongdoing when they used pepper spray to subdue a youth.

Gardaí Brendan Dowling and Fiona Sheehan had the case against them dismissed at Cork District Court.

They used pepper spray to subdue a 16-year-old who, the court heard, was the ringleader of a “violent and sustained attack” by a gang of youths on Paul Street Shopping Centre on May 12, 2012.

Mr Corcoran said that he wanted to “record his anger and that of gardaí up and down the country” when GSOC made a statement after the case saying it was “important to note, however, that there was no verdict as the prosecution was withdrawn”.

Mr Corcoran said the statement would seem to cast doubt on the acquittal of the two gardaí, who, he said, were in fact totally vindicated in court.

“That statement illustrates an unacceptable attitude on the part of the GSOC,” said Mr Corcoran. “Where is the ‘impartiality and independence’ in that statement? That was nothing short of a last nasty kick at the two garda members, who were put through an unnecessary 18-month ordeal.”

He said both gardaí had co-operated with the GSOC probe.

“Where is the sense of fair play? It would seem to my members that the GSOC is peeved at the fact that they did not succeed in this prosecution. The two gardaí were cleared of any wrongdoing.”

Judge Olann Kelleher said there was no evidence the gardaí used the pepper spray in any manner not in accordance with the law. He described footage of the attack as “frightening” and said: “Nobody should underestimate the difficulties faced by gardaí on the streets of Cork.”

Mr Corcoran said: “The Garda members who contacted me have stated that they have lost all confidence in the GSOC to run a fair and impartial investigation into complaints against gardaí following that statement.”