‘Inappropriate’ for on-duty gardaí to back campaigns

Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan has told gardaí it is “inappropriate” for officers to support either side of the same-sex marriage referendum while on duty, after claims a weekend controversy over the issue is “not an isolated incident”.

Tue, 21 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Ms O’Sullivan made the comments after a number of officers posed in photographs in separate incidents in recent days, sparking concerns of State bias.

During a voter registration launch at Pearse Street garda station in Dublin on Sunday, Garda Kerrie Sullivan posed with high-profile Yes campaigner and retired Supreme Court judge Catherine McGuinness in apparent support of a Yes vote.

At a separate incident, another garda was photographed sitting behind the desk of a voter registration event organised by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender society at University College Cork.

At the launch of plans for a €27m redevelopment of Kevin Street garda station in Dublin, the commissioner said the incidents are “inappropriate” and will be investigated.

However, she declined to clarify whether the gardaí will be reprimanded, and appeared to reject No side concerns the issue is a sign of State bias by arguing the incident on Sunday was a photograph that took place in “good faith”.

“It is inappropriate that members of An Garda Síochána would put themselves in that situation, but it’s something that happened, as I said happened in good faith and we will be looking into the circumstances.

“As I say, members of An Garda Síochána are apolitical and we’re not supporting either side in this referendum or indeed in any campaign,” she said.

At the same event, Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin said Garda Kerrie O’Sullivan’s decision to pose in the photograph was a “mistake”, stressing it is “very important An Garda Síochána is not politicised in any way”.

No campaigners yesterday heavily criticised the actions of the garda, and the similar incident at UCC, with Mothers and Fathers Matter spokesman Keith Mills warning the controversy is “not an isolated incident”.

He claimed Yes campaigners are involved in a “blatant politicising” of the impartiality of gardaí, and questioned who approved the photograph on Sunday.

The Yes Equality campaign group last night said the photograph was set up to encourage people to register to vote before May 5 and was not intended to politicise gardaí.