A CALL has been made for the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) to investigate awards and settlements arising from claims brought against the Garda.
Latest statistics from the Department of Justice show provisional awards including costs of almost €4.23 million to date this year for assault, illegal arrest and other claims against gardaí.
Figures for last year totalled almost €14.43 million, linked predominantly to cases in Donegal and awards to Frank Shortt and Frank McBrearty.
Settlements and legal costs were listed from 2002 to November 11th this year.
Some €1.24 million was paid in 2002; €1.276 million in 2003; €938,000 in 2004; €4.87 million in 2005; €1.95 million in 2006; €14.429 million last year, and €4.228 million in the year to date.
Labour justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte said the C&AG should look into the awards. "Whether one includes the McBrearty cases or not, these awards are still rising exponentially and ought to be a cause of concern for the Minister for Justice," he said.
"They highlight the need for oversight of Garda operations, and I think it will represent a responsibility on the Garda Ombudsman Commission", he said, to see whether its operation "will contain the costs".
Awards and settlements this year totalled just over €941,000. These included 14 cases of assault, six incidences of unlawful arrest and 18 other cases. Legal costs in these cases reached almost €3.29 million.
The significantly higher costs for last year included the increase by the Supreme Court of an award in the Frank Shortt case by €2.7 million, along with a High Court award totalling €2.475 million to Frank McBrearty Co Ltd.
