Gardaí deny Daly arrest probe claim

Garda representatives have reacted strongly to allegations in the Dáil by independent TD Mick Wallace that gardai are not co-operating with a Garda Ombudsman investigation into the leaking of the arrest of independent TD Clare Daly two years ago.

Mr Wallace read on Tuesday night from what he said was a letter from GSOC to Ms Daly’s solicitor which claimed that gardaí involved in the arrest had “declined to voluntarily provide accounts or to cooperate with the GSOC investigation”.

The letter stated that directions had been made that accounts be obtained from the members “by the use of the power of compellability” under section 39 of the Garda Siochána Act 2005.

The lengthy letter claimed that GSOC had been unable to meet the local superintendent and that letters and phone calls “have gone unanswered” and that they were considering trying to compel the district officer to give a statement.

The letter said that there had also been a “delay” on the part of the Garda authorities to providing documentation.

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In addition, the letter said another superintendent had been appointed by the Garda authorities to carry out some “internal inquiry”, but that they have been unable to find out who the person was and what inquiries they had made.

GSOC is investigating how details of an arrest of Ms Daly on suspicion of drink driving on January 28, 2013, got into the media.

Mr Wallace put it to the Taoiseach that this was “an unsatisfactory situation”.

The Taoiseach asked Mr Wallace for a copy of the letter and said he would bring it to the attention of Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

Responding yesterday, Garda Representative Association official for Dublin South Central Damien McCarthy said: “We look forward to the Taoiseach being furnished with the letter and we will be making representations to the Taoiseach as a result of what was said in the Dáil.”

He insisted that gardaí attached to Kilmainham Garda Station, including the two guards involved in the arrest, had “co-operated fully with every aspect of the GSOC investigation”.

Statements were also provided by a further 10-12 members in Kilmainham and Kevin Street stations, he said.

Mr McCarthy said they had “lost faith in GSOC to investigate the matter in an impartial manner”.

He said gardai had only been told by GSOC that their investigation was “ongoing”.

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