GRA admits time needed to regain public trust

It will take a long time to rebuild public trust in gardaí after the damning Morris Report, the county’s largest garda union admitted today.

In its first official response to the Tribunal’s June 1 findings, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) warned that reform of the force should be broad-based and not just focused on discipline.

Judge Frederick Morris’ second report into garda corruption in Co Donegal heavily criticised several gardaí including five who have since been transferred by the Garda Commissioner to Dublin stations.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has meanwhile pledged crucial changes to the Garda Bill to reflect Judge Morris’ recommendations on reforming the force.

GRA general secretary PJ Stone said today: “It was apparent good police practice was not followed in Donegal when this episode occurred almost a decade hence.

“A small few have sullied the name of the gardaí and there is a long process ahead us of rebuilding public trust and confidence in the gardaí that will require better leadership from all its stakeholders.”

Mr Stone cautioned against the “public annihilation” of its 9,700 members by politicians and media commentators.

“The garda will struggle to function within the communities they serve which I’m sure is not the intended outcome anyone seeks from this process.”

Mr Stone re-iterated the GRA’s call to set up a public policing forum.

The GRA agreed with some of the report’s recommendations on accountability but stressed that the force had a lack of industrial relations procedures.

“If gardaí had proper industrial relations structures about dealing with issues as outlined in the Morris Report and had trust in the management system, the case in Donegal may never have happened,” he said.