Garda sergeants vow not to co-operate with Reserve

Middle-ranking gardaí said tonight they would not be breaking the law if they refused to co-operate with the proposed Garda Reserve.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said it was fundamentally opposed to the volunteer force, which is due to be set up in September.

Its president Paschal Feeney told Justice Minister Michael McDowell that he had threatened them with the law when they proposed a policy of non-cooperation.

“There is no question of members of AGSI breaking the law. We will not. There is also no question of AGSI members breaking their oath of office. However, there will be no co-operation with your foolhardy, politically-driven concept of an auxiliary police force for the Republic of Ireland,” he said.

At the association’s annual conference in Killarney, Mr Feeney said the reserve force was a "disgraceful con job" which Mr McDowell was attempting to foist upon the people of Ireland.

“Minister, you are proposing to spend millions on this ridiculous proposal. It will be money down the drain in terms of real law enforcement. Spend those millions instead on providing proper civilian backup support for An Garda Síochána and free up at least 400 full-time gardaí to do real police work,” he said.

In his speech, he warned that the proposed reserve would have almost identical uniforms to qualified Gardai and could be deployed to police their neighbours.

“Minister, if I am auxiliary, say in Clifden. Who is to define my ‘own neighbourhood’. I bet the citizens of Clifden regard their entire beautiful town as their neighbourhood – but will local garda management? So, we are back to the fact that, in spite of your attempt to fudge the issue, neighbour will be handed the power to arrest neighbour in this ridiculous scheme. “

Mr Feeney constantly described the reserve members as auxiliaries, in an apparent reference to the ill-disciplined force of ex-British officers who, along with the Black and Tans, terrorised Ireland during the War of Independence.

“These auxiliaries will just not be able to do the job and we, the members of this association, will have to clean up after them. They will not be an assistance minister, they will be a hindrance and they will further divert gardaí from real police work as we act as shepherds for these sheep,” he said.

Mr Feeney said that Cheshire, the police force in the England which Mr McDowell visited last week to observe its reserve unit, had a crime detection rate of just 17%.

“Garda Síochána rates are far in excess of that – in fact they are far in excess of all the forces who have auxiliaries – or ‘specials’ as they are called in England. So much for the vaunted ‘success’ of the specials in England and throughout the 43 forces of the UK,” he said.

In his speech, he said the AGSI supported the amendments Mr McDowell had introduced to the Criminal Justice Bill such as electronic tagging and the new offence of criminal gang membership.

“On a critical note however we are not in favour of the proposed gun amnesty because we see it as having limited value. Hardened criminals are not likely to give up their guns as easily as that,” he said.

Mr Feeney called on Mr McDowell to increase the Garda retirement age from 57 to 60 and to set up a Garda Ombudsman to deal with internal complaints.

“It is also our firm conviction that the present Grievance Procedure in An Garda Síochána is not working well, if at all, and our members have no confidence in it as a means of resolving problems. It is not independent and there is no real right of appeal.”

He raised questions about the sale of Harcourt Terrace Garda Station in Dublin without any consultation with senior garda management.

“Even now, as I speak to you minister, that very management is struggling with plans to relocate the 70-strong staff of Harcourt Terrace into portacabins in the Kevin Street Garda Station. Kevin Street itself is a totally inadequate building which is no police station – it is in fact the historic and aged former residence of the Archbishop of Dublin and totally unsuitable to provide a police service from.”

Mr Feeney added that management also had to deal with the huge logistical problem of catering for the 1,500 prisoners who were detained in the cells at Harcourt Terrace in the progress of one year.

“Our members are running out of patience, minister. If the move to Kevin Street results in them having to move into portacabins, or into already overcrowded conditions, and they decide to leave that accommodation, then they will have the full support of this association and, I am sure, of the Garda Representative Association.”