Gardaí call for end to political gagging

Rank-and-file gardaí have called on Garda management to open up to the public so it can see the force is “not a secretive or suppressive organisation”.

In a submission to an external review of the force, seen by the Irish Examiner, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) said police bosses must stop looking for “permission to speak from a political master”.

The GRA said continuing dialogue with the public — including the rebuttal of unfounded criticism — was “the first step to inspiring public confidence and rehabilitating the corporate reputation of the organisation”.