The internal Garda report into allegations of misconduct by gardai in Donegal will be presented to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Garda Commissioner within seven days.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony in the Garda College, Templemore yesterday, the Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, said the incidents were confined to Donegal and he would be examining the report in relation to policing operations in the Donegal area.
At the same graduation ceremony, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Ms Mary Hanafin said the Children Bill, which is going through the Oireachtas, will set the statutory agenda for the care, protection and control of children under 18 years of age. She said as far as child offenders were concerned, criminal law would be the last option used. "Our policy is based on the enlightened involvement of the family and the community. We don't use dungeons and we won't use the dungeon mentality," she said.
The Minister said that where it was judicially determined that a child should be incarcerated, the emphasis would be on training and reform. "The children will be encouraged to avail of training and education which will assist in them becoming participating and productive members of society," she said.
Early intervention and early assistance were the key elements of the Government's approach to the development of the services available for children who encountered the criminal law, she said. As an example of this, she spoke of the success of the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme. In 1997, some 8,583 children were included in the programme. Since its inception in 1963, some 94,778 children had been included in the programme, Ms Hanafin said. Almost 90 per cent of those had reached their 18th birthday without offending.
Ms Hanafin presented the Commissioner's Medal - awarded to the student receiving the highest aggregate marks in academic subjects - to Garda Noeleen McKenna, from Doogary, Tydavnet, Co Monaghan, who will be stationed at Ballymun in Dublin.
Garda Alan McGovern, from Crosshaven, Co Cork, was awarded the Gary Sheehan Memorial Medal, commemorating the recruit garda who was killed on duty in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, in December 1983. This prize is awarded to the best all-round student. Garda McGovern will be attached to Cahir garda station in Co Tipperary.
The Templemore Urban District Council Medal for outstanding achievement and appreciation in the area of social science studies, was presented to Garda Denise Donegan, from Kill, Co Kildare, who will be stationed at Clondalkin in Co Dublin.