Garda Complaints - Public trust must not be abused

At the launch yesterday of the annual report of the Garda Complaints Board for 2006, the chairman, Gordon Holmes, called for a reappraisal of the licensing laws in light of the increase in public order offences taking place around the country after closing time. This has been partly responsible for growing number of complaints against the gardaí.

During the year there were 1,223 complaints, which was an increase of 8.6%. Those ranged from minor matters of discourtesy to complaints of excessive force being used, and even accusations of serious assault against specific gardaí.

The Complaints Board was unable to adjudicate on the merits of many complaints, because those amounted to one person’s version against the word of a garda, who told a very different story. In such instances there was nothing the board could do.