Calls for Ombudsman to tackle garda bullying

Rank-and-file gardaí called for an independent ombudsman to eliminate the scourge of bullying in the force.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) today estimated that more than one thousand members were suffering from a range of bullying, with some being driven to suicide.

Outgoing president Dermot O’Donnell said a new body such as an independent ombudsman was needed to replace the ineffective internal grievance procedure.

“We have no independence in our industrial relations mechanism and that is really a big problem. Many victims of bullying are out there suffering silently and not only them, but also their husbands, their wives, their children,” he said.

The GRA, which is holding its annual conference in Galway, has been calling for an independent ombudsman similar to the body established by the Defence Forces.

A working group was established last year to tackle the problem but it has only met twice. Mr O’Donnell said the progress, while positive, was interminably slow.

“The constant stream of (bullying) cases going before the courts is evidence that urgent remedial action needs to be undertaken in this area,” he said.

The hierarchical nature of the Garda force means that bullies can give orders which on the surface appear normal, but are designed to upset the victim. They can block the victim’s applications for transfers and promotion.

“People’s rosters being changed, people’s working hours being changed. People being assigned to a task that doesn’t rotate amongst other people equally. Within a disciplined organisation, a bully can thrive because he can let on it is behind the lawful order,” said Mr O’Donnell.

He said an independent ombudsman would give bullying victims more confidence to come forward with their complaints before the situation escalated further.

“When people have a grievance, they don’t express it. That’s what the culture says but it’s not what the rule says.”

Mr O’Donnell also said that other gardaí were afraid to intervene when their colleagues were bullied.

“Because of their fear of the bully turning on them, they stay quiet rather than draw it on themselves. That’s an understandable but regrettable reaction. Without the policies, without the support, it just is too high a risk for people to take.”

The Garda working group on bullying is expected to make its recommendations within the next 12 months.