Seventy people have received €6 million in compensation for assault and wrongful arrest by members of the Garda Síochána over the last five years, it has emerged. According to the Department of Justice, 64 cases were settled without going to court, while 52 of the cases were settled for less than €25,000 each.
Thirty-five people received payments following assault by gardaí, while 30 more were compensated after they were wrongfully arrested, statistics given to Labour TD, Mr Joe Costello, revealed.
However, it is not yet known what disciplinary action, if any, has been taken by the Garda authorities against any officers found to have been responsible for assault and wrongful arrest. Last night, Garda headquarters failed to respond to questions from The Irish Times.
Last night, Mr Costello said: "These are alarming figures and suggest a far wider problem in regard to abuses by the Garda than had previously been realised.
"The number of cases settled before a court hearing suggested that there is 'a policy of out-of-court settlements in order to minimise negative publicity' for the Garda Síochána.
"This indicates a far higher level of claims than suggested by the handful of high-profile cases that have come to media and public attention through the courts in recent years," he said.
"The compensation awards highlight the need for the introduction of a Garda ombudsman to deal with complaints against the gardaí and the establishment of an independent Garda authority."
Refusing to enter into a debate with Mr Costello on the issue, the Department of Justice said half the €6 million went on lawyers' costs.
"The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, has already made it clear what he intends to do regarding the establishment of the Garda inspectorate," a spokesman said.
Mr Costello said: "I am now calling on the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner to make an immediate statement on these figures setting out the steps he intends to take to deal with what appears to be a serious breakdown on discipline and order within some sections of the force and to outline what disciplinary action has been taken by the Garda authorities against those responsible."