Opportunity must not be squandered - Policing Authority

LIKE nearly every institution in the State, An Garda Síochána has been the subject of ongoing criticism in recent years and, like nearly every other national institution, the force has had to accept that some of that criticism was justified.

That essential questioning culminated in the resignation, if that is an accurate description, of former commissioner Martin Callinan and his political master, former justice minister Alan Shatter a little over a year ago.

That criticism must have been disheartening for the great majority of gardaí who wish for no more than the chance to do their job properly and serve this society. The criticism did have a positive impact, though — it set in train long overdue and important reforms if the force’s credibility and moral authority were to be preserved. The move-along-nothing-to-see-here defence finally, and thankfully, ran out of road.