New mechanism for less serious complaints against gardaí considered

A new mechanism for dealing with “less serious” complaints against gardaí to the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) is currently being considered alongside a rise in the number of reported grievances.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said that while all complaints were serious, some might be better dealt with through a “more informal resolution” process.

The idea has been discussed with both Gsoc and the Garda, as well as Garda representative organisations, and the concept has been broadly welcomed.

Its emergence comes at a time when the number of complaints has risen. Tthere was an 11 per cent increase in 2014 on the previous year. Gsoc concluded 8 per cent more cases in the same period while the medium response to complaints fell from 155 days to 112 days.

“From the Garda point of view they are very keen of course to preserve the integrity of the process and that they don’t find their members being asked to resolve something informally where there might be a question of the garda’s behaviour or that it would cast some doubt on the integrity of their behaviour and yet not have a formal process,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

The Minister was addressing the Oireachtas Committee on Justice which had convened to discuss the nomination of High Court Justice Mary Ellen Ring as chairwoman of Gsoc, a nomination unanimously welcomed at Wednesday’s hearing.

Despite historic tensions, Ms Fitzgerald said there was “marked improvement in efficiency and in dialogue and co-operation” between Gsoc and the Garda .

“This would suggest that the revised 2013 protocols between Gsoc and the Garda Commissioner are working and, while there may be room for further improvements in the turnaround of investigations, I have every confidence this is now a shared objective of both organisations.”

Independent TD Finian McGrath said he was “hearing a different view at the moment on the ground” although Ms Fitzgerald said she would expect tensions in such a relationship.

Ms Justice Ring, who was appointed to the High Court this month, is to serve the remainder of the duration of the term of former chairman Simon O’Brien, who resigned in January to take up the role of chief executive of the Pensions Ombudsman Service in the UK. Her tenure will expire in December 2016, although she will be eligible for reappointment at that juncture.

Chairman of the Justice Committee David Stanton welcomed her appointment and acknowledged that “another woman has broken the glass ceiling”.

He said this mirrored the case in the offices of Minister for Justice, Garda Commissioner, Director of Public Prosecutions, Attorney General, Chief Justice, Policing Authority and Human Rights and Equality Commission; “all very, very able people and all women and it’s very welcome”.