Fitzgerald vows ‘root and branch’ reform

Frances Fitzgerald, the new justice minister, has refused to express confidence in the head of her department after the Guerin report criticised the inadequate response to serious complaints about gardaí.

However, Ms Fitzgerald has promised a “root and branch” reform and pledged to introduce measures to address systematic failings in the force.

She made her comments following the damning publication of a report by barrister Seán Guerin, which examined complaints made by Sgt Maurice McCabe about the force and the mishandling of cases.

Future responses to the victims of crime and inadequacies in policing would be addressed, she said after the publication of the report.

“We must now enter a new era of policing in this country and that organisational reform and cultural change is essential,” said Ms Fitzgerald.

She said the findings of the Guerin report were “grave”. Reforms would address systematic failings in the oversight of the force, she said, and would also help support gardaí.

These measures will include a full commission of investigation into Sgt McCabe’s complaints; the setting up of a new Garda authority to independently oversee the force; an examination of expanding the Garda ombudsman’s remit, and Oireachtas hearings on reforming the force.

The Guerin report found that operational policies and procedures within the force were “inadequate” in the cases examined, said Ms Fitzgerald, adding: “The report further raises fundamental questions about the treatment and response to victims of crime which must be addressed as a matter of priority.”

The new minister said complaints about gardaí would now be dealt with “comprehensibly and robustly” by her department and a “root and branch” reform would take place.

However, Ms Fitzgerald refused to say if she had confidence in her department secretary general Brian Purcell, despite being asked three times if she did.

The report said it could not be identified if the department understood the statutory role former justice minister Alan Shatter had to perform in relation to Sgt McCabe’s complaints.

Mr Shatter resigned this week. However, questions remain about Mr Purcell’s role in addressing Sgt McCabe’s complaints.

Ms Fitzgerald said she had met Mr Purcell briefly yesterday, that she needed to study the report further, and that it was “too early” to say if there would be consequences for officials in the department.

She said Mr Guerin felt the department had not played “an independent enough” role examining complaints.

Ms Fitzgerald also said she had met acting Garda commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan yesterday. They discussed the report, as well as Sgt McCabe. An announcement could be made soon, she said, about whether the Garda whistleblower could now be allowed full access to the Garda pulse system, which he was restricted from using two years ago by Garda chiefs.