Penalty points - Culture of force needs to change

It is unsurprising that Commissioner Martin Callinan defended the Garda handling of the penalty points controversy at yesterday’s Public Accounts Committee hearing. That he might do anything else is unimaginable, it would certainly be unprecedented.

Nevertheless, he did acknowledge that the flexibility and discretion built into the system led to, in a very small number of cases, abuse and inequity. He also acknowledged inconsistency in how discretion was applied. He did point out though that procedures have been revised and best practice underlined to ensure that the system is fair and is as far beyond question as any process where police officers and miscreant drivers interact. If that was all there was to the controversy then it could be put aside, but unfortunately it is not.

Commissioner Callinan’s declaration that he will seek legal advice on whether or not the two gardaí who first brought the abuse to public attention might be prevented from giving evidence to the PAC is a sinister, dangerous declaration from another time. It is unacceptable and dangerous autocracy. Commissioner Callinan’s tacit threat reeks of intimidation and the culture of omertà that has debased public life and service for far too long. It also is reflective of the we-know-best unilateralism that has undermined faith in the gardaí.