Garda powers in public order cases 'clearly defective'

Garda powers to detain vulnerable people in public order situations are “clearly defective”, the head of the Garda Ombudsman has said.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring also told the Oireachtas justice committee that some 20% of the complaints they get every year from the public about garda members were minor “service issues” and should be dealt with internally.

The chair of GSOC said it was conducting an investigation into the practice in the force of detaining people under the Public Order Act 1994 — even though there is no such power of detention.