McDowell responsible for low morale, says Garda leader
The president of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) tonight launched a prolonged attack on Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, saying that morale in the force is the worst it has been for at least 35 years.
In an address to the AGSI conference in Wexford, Paschal Feeney pointed to what he regards as a catalogue of failures and broken promises from the Tánaiste as he oversees reform of the force.
Among the complaints are the state of garda stations in Portlaoise, Wexford town and Dunmanway, Co Cork, the lack of a dedicated firearms training facility and the state of the vehicle fleet.
Mr Feeney also hit out at the way the force is being civilianised.
Even though AGSI supports the process, he said gardaí had been shamefully treated with some uniformed officers being replaced by new clerical staff with little or no notice.
"The official side - your side Tánaiste - had torn up formal agreements and had acted brutally and without regard for even normal common courtesy or the industrial relations processes which were already in place and on which progress was being made," he said.
Delegates heard morale in the force is at an all-time low following the findings of the Barr Tribunal, Morris Tribunal and the introduction of the Garda Siochana Act 2005.
"I can honestly say colleagues, in my 35 years in An Garda Síochana I have never witnessed such depths of despair among our members," he said.
Mr Feeney claimed the Act had led to weak management in the force.
"Under that Act your [Mr McDowell's] footprint now oversees all garda policy and you have a day-to-day control of the running of the garda organisation. This is having an adverse effect on frontline policing," he said.
Mr Feeney said while the Tánaiste continually talks about ensuring best international practice in the force, he has failed in many areas.
He described the garda radio system as "antique" and warned about the lack of a dedicated firearms training facility. A new digital radio is currently being tested.
Mr Feeney said: "You appear to have treated the project as yet another opportunity to obtain personal publicity and you may have misled the public into thinking that the new radio system was just around the corner."
The AGSI chief warned that smaller, cheaper family saloon cars are inadequate and said it was a disgrace that there is no dedicated firearms training facility.
Gardaí use the Defence Force's range, the training centre in Templemore known as "Tactics Town", which was knocked down.
Plans for a firing range at Garda Headquarters have been questioned, he noted.
"It beggars belief that all this should be allowed to happen at a time of an upsurge in gangland crime and shootings," he said.
"Our members are not getting the firearms training that they need at this time and they are not being trained to best international practice. Members, and members of the public, will inevitably be placed at risk if this situation continues.
"Tánaiste, there is only one word for all of this - disgraceful - and all responsible should hang their heads in shame."
Mr Feeney also criticised the media coverage of the death of Sergeant Tania Corcoran who died in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda hospital last month after giving birth to twins. One of her new-born babies also died.
He also urged officers not to leak information out to the media.
