Conroy response to tribunal in days

The Garda Commissioner's official response to the findings of the latest Morris tribunal reports will be published this week.

Commissioner Noel Conroy cut short his summer holidays to return to Dublin to deal with the fallout from the three reports, published earlier this month.

A Garda spokesman said yesterday the commissioner's response will be published within the next day or two.

Among a wide range of issues, the commissioner is expected to address disciplinary matters and the fate of suspended Det Garda John White who was strongly criticised in the tribunal reports.

Det White, who was acquitted in the courts on various charges, including planting a firearm at a Travellers camp in Burnfoot, is seeking to retire on maximum pension. In its latest reports, the tribunal, which is investigating Garda corruption in Co Donegal, found gross insubordination and indiscipline in the force relating to events in Donegal in the mid- 1990s.

Garda Representative Association general secretary PJ Stone has said the issues in Donegal should have been dealt with earlier and in a more forthright and forceful way by Garda management. He also criticised the absence in the tribunal reports of any cohesive apportioning of blame to Garda management.