Sack the gardaí who defied points order

HOW wonderful it would be to live long enough to hear a Government minister say, without fear or favour, “those who ignored, for invalid reasons, clear Government policy, a policy reiterated and communicated by their superiors, have been permanently removed from public service and will not be entitled to any work-related payment until they reach the national retirement age”.

But, as Patrick MacGill’s Moleskin Joe used to say: “There’s a good time comin’ though we may never live to see it.”

The Garda penalty points report has shown — again — that some gardaí imagine themselves beyond the reach of sanction. The report found that six senior gardaí continued to cancel penalty points in breach of policy and outsidetheir areas of responsibility contrary to orders from the Commissioner. It identifies nine cases where senior officers cancelled points and seven instances where points were cancelled on questionable grounds even after Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan introduced procedures in June.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has said there is no hiding place for people who have penalty points improperly quashed. It might have been more reassuring if she made the same declaration about gardaí who did the quashing. If our justice and policing system is to have any credibility, it is hard to see how those who defied the clear orders not to quash penalty points can remain in the force.