Blanket criticism of gardaí ‘wrong’

Criticism that paints every garda as bad “is just wrong and must be rejected”, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said.

She said there is a need to recognise the good work of gardaí, highlighted recently in cases such as the Graham Dwyer murder investigation.

The minister was speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in Trim, Co Meath.

She announced at the conference that 250 people were going to be recruited into the force this year – in addition to the 300 already in Templemore Garda College.

The minister told delegates she was increasingly encountering praise of the policing and detective work of members, both in local and high-profile cases.

“This is most welcome, particularly against a background of recent tough times,” she said. “The service has received a lot of criticism. Criticism that paints every member of the force as bad is just wrong and must be rejected.”

Her comments received a round of applause from delegates, representing the 2,400 sergeants and inspectors in the force.

“On the other hand, we must all have the honesty and self-confidence to face up to valid and constructive criticism,” the minister added. “There is no organisation that cannot learn lessons and improve.”

The minister said in recent days people had seen in court cases, including the Dwyer case, evidence of detailed garda work.

“It shows you the dedication of individual Garda members, but it also shows you a force that wants to do the work properly and get on with the job of doing crime investigation day to day.

“A lot of that is very hidden and the force has been through a difficult time and a lot of criticisms. There has been a foundation to some of those. Lets not paint the entire force as if there is a problem with each and every one of them. Let’s recognise the good work that’s been done.”

Her announcement of 250 new garda recruits also received a round of applause from delegates, which she said would bring the total number of recruits to 550 in 2014 and 2015.

Regarding estimates from Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan that 325 new recruits were needed every year to keep the force at the minimum strength of 13,000, Ms Fitzgerald said: “I believe fully that An Garda Síochána will be kept at 13,000.”

She pointed out Templemore had the capacity to take 600 gardaí over the course of a year. She said the Government was committed to dealing with issues facing gardaí, including appropriate levels of supervisors and investment in IT systems – two issues highlighted by the Garda Inspectorate.

READ MORE: State of the force is a disgrace, says AGSI

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