Garda Ombudsman - Commission must be transparent

It remains to be seen whether the boast by Justice Minister Michael McDowell that there would be “huge public confidence” in the Garda Ombudsman Commission when its board is announced sometime in the near future turns out to be mere wishful thinking on his part.

To gain that public trust, if at all, the commission will have to be seen to be meticulously independent and capable of transparently investigating complaints against the gardaí without looking over its collective shoulder.

Even now, the public is not too impressed that the minister has set his face against a single ombudsman, similar to Nuala O’Loan in Northern Ireland.