'Excruciatingly embarrassing' Garda Commissioner press conference was too long, says former Garda

Retired Garda Detective Chief Superintendent John O’Brien has said that while it was appropriate for Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, to acknowledge the failings that occurred with the failure to prosecute thousands of crimes, it should be done with “a sense of perspective and proportionality”.

Mr O’Brien was commenting after it emerged 7,894 criminal offences committed by 3,489 child suspects were not progressed because of “Garda inaction” over a seven-year period.