Dáil to debate Morris Report

A debate is expected to be held in the Dáil later this month on the shocking revelations of the second report from the Morris Tribunal.

Opposition politicians criticised the lack of a Dáil debate after the first damning Morris Report investigating complaints against members of the Garda in Co Donegal was published over a year ago.

Labour Party TD Brendan Howlin said: “We give extraordinary powers to the police and An Garda Síochána are one of the most important elements of maintaining a civilised society.

“But there has to be checks and balances in relation to that because the very liberty and well-being of all our citizens depend on it.”

Ministers will hold a full debate on both hard-hitting reports from the Tribunal in the Dail in two weeks.

Judge Frederick Morris’s report into the death of Donegal cattle dealer Richie Barron found the Garda investigation was “prejudiced, tendentious and utterly negligent in the highest degree”.

He strongly criticised at least 10 gardaí and detailed a trail of mistakes and lies committed by officers which prevented the investigation reaching a successful conclusion.

The judge found that gardaí were “consumed” by the idea that publican Frank McBrearty Jr and his cousin Mark McConnell were guilty of the murder of Mr Barron. However, the report stated there had been no murder and the two men were innocent.

Mr McBrearty Jr has called for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to sack the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner following the report’s revelations.

The Labour Party and the Green Party have called for independent investigations of the gardaí rather than the proposed Ombudsman Commission.

Mr Howlin told RTÉ Radio: “The fundamental question is where does a citizen turn if he feels aggrieved by the actions of our police force and there is no solution to that.”

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has ruled out an independent body styled on the North’s Policing Board for senior management in the force to report to.

Mr Howlin said that along with other politicians, he had sought to fully discuss the complaints against members of the Garda in Donegal several years ago.

The Wexford TD added: “It was like moving a mountain against the resistance of the Department of Justice and its then minister, John O’Donoghue.

“The Government, even when question after question were posed in the Dáil, refused to concede that there could be any reason to have an investigation of the type we now have.”

Mr Howlin said there needs to be a full examination from “root-and-branch” level of the way a modern police force is run.

After the report was published yesterday, the Justice Minister called its conclusions extremely serious and shocking.

Mr McDowell has pledged further Garda reform following the report.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy is examining the report before making any comment on the findings.

Mr McDowell said Judge Morris’ report has also been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.