Garda Ombudsman hits out at claims over station search

The Garda Ombudsman Commission tonight rubbished claims its investigators had potentially contaminated evidence during searches of a garda station in Limerick.

Michael O’Boyce, the new president of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) unleashed a blistering attack on the force’s official watchdog over the alleged incident.

He accused the oversight body of “blundering incompetence” and of having risked trials in Limerick by interfering with and removing criminal evidence during its own internal probe.

It is understood the alleged incident relates to a search of Roxboro Road garda station in the city some months ago by ombudsman investigators.

Mr O’Boyce, speaking at the GRA annual conference in Tullow, Co Carlow, said evidence was being stored in officers’ lockers because there was no dedicated storage areas in the station.

“This was evidence gathered in criminal cases that the gardaí were working on,” he said.

“The Ombudsman Commission came in, opened the lockers and just rooted through everything, and actually seized stuff that was part of evidence in some of the trials that are continuing down there.”

The GRA president said the alleged removal of the evidence could risk upcoming criminal trials because officers needed to prove that it couldn’t have been interfered with.

“They are trying to redress this situation,” he said.

“I’m not saying how serious it is, I don’t know. That will be apparent in time.”

Kieran Fitzgerald, Ombudsman spokesman, dismissed the claims and launched a counterattack on the new GRA president.

“I think it’s very unfortunate that Michael O’Boyce is taking this as his line in relation to the Garda Ombudsman as he comes into office,” he said.

“He produces no evidence whatsoever to back up his claim.”

Mr Fitzgerald said there had been no complaint from the station involved about any issues regarding the search.

“It seems to me that Michael O’Boyce’s fundamental problem is that our investigators have the legal right to conduct searches,” he said.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy would not be drawn into the stinging criticism of the ombudsman at the two-day conference.

“I welcome independent investigation, we called for it for a long time, we have it now and I welcome it. I think it’s working reasonably well,” he said.

“Gardaí who go about their duty in a diligent and lawful manner have nothing to fear from oversight.”