New cold case unit unveiled

A new cold case unit within the Garda which will revisit unsolved crimes will form part of a raft of reforms being unveiled tomorrow.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy will also reveal that new screening tests are to be introduced for candidates applying to become detectives within the force.

A number of new posts are to be created as part of the plans.

Some 21 new Detective Inspectors are to be appointed with one for every district in Dublin and one for every garda division outside the capital.

Additional regional Detective Superintendents will be allocated on a similar basis.

Senior Investigating Officers are to be recruited to take charge of serious crime inquiries while Incident Room Co-ordinators will free up specialist resources tied up in managing roles.

Specialist Victim Interviewers will be brought in to interview children under 14 years of age as well as those with special needs and victims of sexual crime.

Forensic Collision Investigators will also be hired to focus on road crashes, particularly fatal accidents.

The package of crime investigation initiatives are to be officially launched tomorrow at Garda Headquarters in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.