Garda chief makes plea for DNA database

The lack of a national DNA database is hampering the investigations of serious crimes, the Garda Commissioner said today.

Noel Conroy said Ireland was one of the few European countries without such a database.

“It leaves An Garda Siochana at a distinct disadvantage in crime investigation,” he said.

At the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) in Kerry, Mr Conroy said he would support the early introduction of the system.

The DNA database would contain DNA profiles from suspected offenders and from crime scenes.

“The advantages of a DNA database for policing are clearly obvious, in that DNA extracted from crime scenes can save valuable time in speedily either associating or eliminating suspects from an investigation,” said Mr Conroy.

He said the National DNA Database in Britain had resulted in a 5% reduction in crime and a 50% hit rate on every sample checked against the database.

Since the database was set up in 1995, it has gathered 2.58 million DNA profiles from suspect offenders and 230,000 DNA profiles from crime scene samples.

The database also contains samples from Northern Ireland, which are supplied by the forensic service.

Last month, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, also called for the introduction of the DNA database.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has said he will take proposals to cabinet to establish the database, following a final report from the Law Report Commission. He has promised that safeguards will be included to ensure samples are properly preserved and protected.

In his speech to GRA delegates, Mr Conroy said he rejected the perception that gardaí on traffic duty were picking on motorists who were easy targets.

“I again challenge that perception and wish to clearly state that no such strategy has ever been directed by Garda management,” he said.

He added that it was Garda policy to target speeding motorists at locations with a history of collisions.

Last month, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors announced that its members would not be participating in cross-border exchanges with the Police Service of Northern Ireland due to pay and security concerns.

Mr Conroy, who has held several meetings with PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde, today urged rank and file gardaí to take part.

“I believe such exchanges provide our members with a tremendous opportunity for personal development and I encourage members to take up the challenge offered,” he said.

Mr Conroy told the conference that gardaí had to deal with significant public order problems due to the place of the pub in Irish society, the increased wealth of young people and the decrease in parental control.

“Members operate in the front-line in dealing with these problems and indeed all too often, attract unjustified criticism for doing their duty in the face of alcohol-fuelled attacks,” he said.

The GRA had called for the report into the Garda operations during the Reclaim the Streets protest in 2002 be published.

Seven gardaí were put on trial for allegedly assaulting protestors and one was convicted.

Mr Conroy said the recommendations in the report by Assistant Commissioner Richard Kelly had been implemented.