Call for independent board to oversee Garda

Gardaí want an independent police board to oversee An Garda Síochána and end what they see as undue political interference in the force.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) also believes the set-up of an independent authority, to whom senior Garda management would be accountable, would also safeguard the independence of the force's promotion system.

GRA general secretary, PJ Stone, who was speaking at the closing session of the GRA's annual conference in Westport, said the recent arrest of a journalist and garda, as part of an investigation into a media leak, was prompted when the secretary general of the Department of Justice, Seán Aylward, contacted Garda Headquarters and pointed out the leak.

"It might possibly be legitimate and it might be right and appropriate that the persons were arrested," said Mr Stone.

"But my concern is that such a central figure close to Government would be entitled to pick up a phone and insist that the Garda Commissioner investigate something, that's my major worry.

"The Garda Síochána should be responsible for the investigation of crime, not the department. I have a very uneasy feeling about people having the right to ring the Garda Commissioner and demand that certain actions be taken. A police authority would ensure we are dealing with things on an independent basis."

Mr Stone said there was no suggestion that Minister for Justice Michael McDowell had abused his powers.

However, this may not be the case with future ministers. In light of provisions in the Garda Síochána Act, which enables a Minister to see any Garda file at any time, an independent authority was badly needed.

The authority would mean the Minister and his officials would no longer be able to effectively run the Garda.

He believed the promotions system also needed to be governed by the independent authority. There was "something wrong" with the current system, whereby an interview board sent a three-name shortlist to the department and allowed them make the appointment of senior officers.

"Either the interview board is properly constructed to make the right determination or it's not. The system in relation to promotion has to be seen to be fair and above board."

The head of the Garda Ombudsman Commission, Mr Justice Kevin Haugh, told delegates he expected his agency to receive up to 4,000 complaints annually against gardaí. He hoped many could be handled by "local intervention", saying the commission itself would only investigate a small number.