Lucinda Creighton has called for an immediate inquiry into the destruction of documents by the former Garda commissioner, Martin Callinan, on leaving his post.
The Renua Ireland leader described as a "highly worrying state of affairs" a finding by the interim report of the Fennelly Commission that the former commissioner destroyed "possibly 8 - 10 bags" of documents after announcing his resignation from the role on March 25th last.
The report, which investigated Mr Callinan’s resignation, stated that a superintendent had been informed by the former commissioner that these were “personal papers gathered over the years”.
Ms Creighton called on current Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan to “launch an inquiry into what happened to that documentation to establish what was contained in it and whether it included sensitive materials pertaining to cases that the former commissioner was involved in or aware of.’’
Ms Creighton welcomed the establishment of a new policing authority but said it could not solve the problems currently facing the justice system.
“This is only the end of the beginning of a series of reforms needed to restore public confidence in Irish policing” which Ms Creighton said was at an “all-time low”.
“The reputation of hard-working police officers has been severely damaged by a series of scandals and reports,” she said, describing the events which led to the Morris, Guerin and Toland reports and the interim report of the Fennelly commission as “matters of deep and existential concern”.
“A policing authority is only part of the solution and anyone who believes otherwise is seriously mistaken.”
Ms Creighton also criticised the failure to replace Brian Purcell in the role of secretary general in the Department of Justice which she described as a “cause of significant concern” which should be addressed as a matter of absolute priority.
Speaking earlier this week Commissioner O’Sullivan said the force was “fully co-operating” with facilitating the Fennelly commission in its ongoing work.
“The interim report is being examined and any issues identified in it will be fully addressed,” she said.
