GARDA COMMISSIONER Fachtna Murphy has called GRA general secretary PJ Stone and new president Damien McCarthy to a meeting at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, today.
He is to warn them not to stray into political debate again.The meeting follows remarks that were to be delivered in a speech to Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern by outgoing GRA president Michael O’Boyce at its annual conference in Limerick on Tuesday.
Mr O’Boyce planned to say the Government had been “corrupted” by years in power and that Fianna Fáil had been “bought” by bankers and developers.
Mr Ahern said Garda members, by law, had to remain apolitical.
At a passing-out ceremony in the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary, yesterday, Mr Murphy said “gratuitous comments about corruption” had no place in the Garda. “We have to police this State in an impartial and professional manner and there is clearly no place for the gardaí in the cut and thrust of political rhetoric and debate.”
Mr Ahern said Garda recruitment would resume later this year to replace members who were retiring. He could not say how many new gardaí would be hired.