Senior gardaí: Ombudsman breached act in bug probe

Middle-ranking gardaí have accused the ombudsman of going outside the law by using an independent firm to investigate suspected bugging at its offices.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors also says members of the force should be allowed join the watchdog, and it wants the State to pay for lawyers who advise gardaí during disciplinary cases or matters probed by the ombudsman.

The recommendations are part of the association’s submission to the Oireachtas Justice Committee, obtained by the Irish Examiner, on changes to the law on the oversight of gardaí and the work of the Garda ombudsman.