Madam, – Your headline “Academic warns of more Garda scandal” (Home New, June 3rd) implied the author of a new book had evidence to substantiate this claim – beyond a reputation as a Belfast law lecturer who researched the findings of the Morris tribunal; the frame of reference for which was the behaviour of certain gardaí in the Donegal division in the 1990s.
From your report it was difficult to discern any detail to justify any inherent allegations other than unspecified international cases showing “a cycle of policing in which scandal is followed by reform, then followed by another scandal”. Members of the Force refute this.
It is often forgotten that Mr Justice Frederick Morris also commended numerous gardaí of all ranks for their honesty and commitment, so when it was suggested that the tribunal would not have been needed “if gardaí had told the truth in the first place” tars the entire force with the one brush. All the evidence concluded the wrongdoing in Donegal was limited to a very small number of gardaí – fewer than 10.
Gardaí now operate under an extremely strict code of discipline that was introduced as part of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and is overseen by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) with enhanced powers. The facts speak for themselves.
The Garda Síochána is one of the truly world-class successes of the Irish Republic, creating an unarmed force from the turmoil of Civil War. Many other international case studies show that many governments have tried to recreate this model without similar success.
To suggest that more Garda scandal is inevitable implies a lack of faith in the GSOC and other statutory bodies; we should be informed of the reasoning. It appears you are prepared to voice an allegation without substance. – Yours, etc,