Gardaí call for vote of no confidence in Garda watchdog

Full version Rank and file gardai want to take a vote of no confidence in the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission.

The call is set to come at the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), which begins today in Tullow, Co Carlow.

Delegates will vote on a no confidence motion which, if it were passed, would represent a significant worsening of relations between the Garda watchdog and members of the force.

News that gardai are to debate the issue has emerged just one week after the GRA voiced its concern at the detail supplied to Clare Daly TD when she complained to GSOC two years ago about the manner of her arrest on suspicion of drunk driving.

Ms Daly also complained about the leaking of details of her arrest to the media.

Last week, Mick Wallace TD (Ind) read into the Dáil record correspondence sent by GSOC to Ms Daly’s solicitor updating her on progress with its investigation.

It outlined in great detail the reasons for the delay in progressing the probe, with the main allegation that Garda members were not cooperating with the inquiry.

While it later emerged the letter was almost two years old and that the investigation had moved on and was now near conclusion, the GRA said the correspondence to Ms Daly was much more detailed than the updates its members had received.

The call for a vote of no confidence in GSOC has come from GRA members in the Garda’s Cork City division.

Members of the Kilkenny-Carlow division are seeking clarification on what personal data on Garda members has been accessed and retained by GSOC.

It wants the GRA to ensure any personal data stored by the Garda complaints body is removed from its files.

The conference will also hear calls for better firearms training, including tactical training, to be introduced for Garda members and for the Uzi sub machine gun to be reinstated into the Garda’s arsenal of weapons.