GSOC failed to supply Guerin review with data

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission did not supply Seán Guerin with any documentation for his review, meaning he could not form a considered view of how it investigated the cases highlighted by the whistleblowers.

The organisation was criticised by Mr Guerin but has sought to defend itself by claiming that, while it knew he had a set number of weeks to complete his report, it was unaware “of the exact fixed deadline date”.

However, he found that, in the one case GSOC saw through to completion, it took broadly the same approach as adopted by gardaí. That led him to conclude that while GSOC’s independent investigative function is important, “it appears to be no guarantee of a different disciplinary outcome”.