GRA rejects criticism at protest inquiry

The Garda Representative Association has rejected as "unfair and unwarranted" criticism of the level of co-operation provided by rank- and-file gardaí to an independent inquiry into the policing of the Reclaim the Streets protest.

The Garda Complaints Board, which investigated claims of Garda brutality at the event in Dublin on May 6th, said yesterday that only one in six gardaí on duty at the time responded to its requests for assistance.

It expressed disappointment, moreover, that none of those who replied was able to provide any relevant evidence or identify a colleague implicated in inappropriate behaviour.

However, the GRA's general secretary, Mr P.J. Stone, said such comments were unfair and unwarranted in that a "credible" Garda inquiry, "with which our members were co-operating", was already up and running when the board commenced its investigation.

Mr Stone added: "Our main concern is that individual gardaí endeavouring to do their job will now be scapegoated as part of this entire process."

Seven gardaí are facing charges in relation to assault as a result of the parallel investigations of the Garda and the board. All seven are serving members of the Dublin metropolitan region and have been confined to indoor duties pending the outcome of the proceedings.

The Garda's inquiry was led by the Assistant Commissioner, Mr Tony Hickey, while the board's inquiry was headed by a former Assistant Commissioner, Mr James McHugh.

In addition to the assault cases, 23 gardaí have been cited, on the basis of complaints and in conjunction with video evidence, for not wearing identifying letters and numbers on their uniforms.

The cases are being referred to a disciplinary tribunal to be established under the Garda Síochána (Complaints) Act 1986, which has the power to recommend monetary sanctions and other penalties up to dismissal.

Mr Gordon Holmes, the board's chairman, said it was "reasonably satisfied there was not a concerted effort to avoid identification". Rather, he said, it appeared that some gardaí had forgotten to put on identification as they were drafted in as reinforcements.

He noted that the rule on wearing identification had not been generally enforced, but the Garda Commissioner had since taken steps to change that.

On the level of co-operation it received, the board said in a statement: "Save with limited exceptions, Garda members who were on duty at the march failed to make statements to the investigation team despite having been invited to do so.

"In particular, the board noted that no Garda member had supplied any evidence or material to the effect that another member might have been involved in conduct which would constitute a breach of discipline. The board is concerned with the general lack of co-operation involved and is considering the steps it might take, within the scope of the 1986 Act, to obtain statements from specific members."

Pressed on this point, Mr Holmes said "in practice we can't do much" due to the board's limited powers under the Act. Nor, he said, was Garda management - which had given "excellent" co-operation to the investigation - in a position to compel members to speak to the board.

However, he noted, the issue may be dealt with in the context of the proposed new Garda inspectorate. Mr Holmes stressed that there were incidents during the protest which "were anything but peaceful", including the burning of a car. However, 41 complaints against gardaí were received, and 37 of these were investigated.

Ms Nora Geraghty, of Globalise Resistance, which helped to organise the May protest, said that the board's findings highlighted the need for an independent Garda ombudsman who could compel individual gardaí to give evidence.

"They are supposed to be trained with the techniques to deal with violent protesters if there are any, which there weren't, and they have to be held accountable for that."

She added that street demonstrators had encountered numerous problems with the Garda since new provisions were introduced under the Public Order Act. "Reclaim the Streets was exceptional only in that it was caught on camera," she said.

A Garda spokesman said last night that the force could not comment on the board's claims as it had yet to receive a report on them.