Minister should heed concerns

AS a tireless campaigner for the rights of young homeless people, Fr Peter McVerry’s fearless criticisms of the system warrant serious consideration.

Thus his timely warning about the possible limitations of proposed legislation for a garda inspectorate should be taken on board by Justice Minister Michael McDowell. Already under criticism for his scepticism about a proposed inquiry into drug firms responsible for infecting Irish haemophiliacs with HIV and hepatitis C, the minister can ill-afford to get it wrong in relation to the gardaí.

As emphasised by Fr McVerry, the proposed inspectorate would replace the Garda Complaints Board, a body which, as evidenced by its abject failure to investigate garda violence on the streets of Dublin, has proved ineffective and ill-equipped for the task of putting the actions of members of the force under the microscope.