Shatter used Callinan as a shield

As a former member of An Garda Síochána, I am glad that Martin Callinan has retired as Commissioner, both for his sake and his family’s.

It is sad to see a Commissioner backed into such a position, but it may allow the spotlight to shine more clearly on a Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, who has used the Commissioner for too long as a shelter from criticism.

Shatter has decimated An Garda Síochána, since he has come into office. He has denuded it of stations, manpower and transport, leaving the country with a skeleton police force. When there is public opposition, he says the Commissioner runs the Force. The Commissioner was not allowed to run the Force.

When I joined An Garda Síochána, it was subservient to politicians and that has changed very little. I vividly recall a case in Co Roscommon, where a sergeant who raided a licensed premises, after hours, and found a high-ranking member of government on the premises, was quickly the subject of a transfer. He was only saved by his representative association (A.G.S.I.), which took up his case and had the decision reversed. This was far from being an isolated situation.

While we now have calls from politicians on all sides for an Independent Police Authority. I would remind them that the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors were calling for such a body more than 30 years ago. Indeed, one former Minister for Justice opposed the suggestion alleging “it would be giving excessive control to a police authority”.

At that time, and through the intervening years, there was no political party in favour of a police authority and members of An Garda Síochána, of all ranks, are well aware of why that is the case.

Tony Fagan

Enniscorthy

Co Wexford