Gardaí and penalty points: Firm response is essential

IT is reassuring that Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has acknowledged that disciplinary proceedings must be taken against gardaí — 21 current or retired members of the force — who defied clear instructions not to cancel driver penalty points after last summer’s controversy.

This may not be a life-or-death issue but no police force can sustain the moral authority it needs to do its job properly if behaviour like this — if it is confirmed after a fair, objective investigation — is tolerated within in its ranks.

The integrity of the force depends on a quick and transparent resolution of the issues raised by an internal Garda inquiry and any stonewalling of the kind so criticised in earlier instances by the Garda Ombudsman would be unacceptable.

It would also undermine Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan and reopen the argument on appointing an insider to lead reform so critical at this point in the force’s history.

It is believed 15 of the gardaí implicated are still serving and if they are found to have knowingly defied the no cancellations order then their position seems untenable.

If one of the usual public sector sanctions — suspended on full pay, or holidays as they are known elsewhere — is invoked then our police and justice systems will have been undermined further.

The significance of this issue outweighs the abuse of position inferred and the minister is right to be firm in her response. Let us hope the Government supports her fully.