Rights body yet to decide on Garda inspectorate

The chairman of the Irish Human Rights Commission (HRC), Dr Maurice Manning, said last night it would not be deciding its position on the Government's proposed Garda inspectorate until final plans are produced by the Department of Justice. Mark Hennessy and Liam Reid report

The announcement yesterday of the inspectorate has created friction between the HRC and the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, following criticism from a HRC member, solicitor Mr Michael Farrell.

Mr McDowell claimed that the HRC, set up as part of the Belfast Agreement, supported the establishment of a new inspectorate in a submission in 2002.

He expected commission members to "toe the line" in relation to its submission.

On RTE radio yesterday Mr Farrell criticised aspects of Mr McDowell's proposals, warning that they could dilute some of the investigative powers of a new independent Garda complaints procedure.

Unveiling his ambition to set up the 12- to 15-strong inspectorate, Mr McDowell said it would audit the performance of individual Garda stations, reporting directly to him.

The body would be based on Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, which continues to monitor Northern Ireland policing performance despite the advent of the NI Police Ombudsman, Mrs Nuala O'Loan.

Last night Dr Manning told The Irish Times: "The fact is that we have nothing to consider as of yet. We have had no communication from the Minister or the Department of Justice.

"Our position is as it was given in past documents. Michael Farrell is a respected member of the HRC, but in this case he was speaking in a personal capacity."

The Opposition yesterday accused the Minister of attempting to copperfasten politicians' control of An Garda Siochana.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Mr Jim O'Keeffe said it was a knee-jerk reaction to the Morris tribunal report, while Labour TD Mr Joe Costello said it was a move to "retain overall ministerial control" of the Garda.

Green Party TD Mr Ciaran Cuffe said it would be "more appropriate" to vest the new powers in the proposed Ombudsman commission to avoid improper political influence.

Sinn Fein TD Mr Aengus O Snodaigh welcomed the decision to "decouple" the investigation of complaints from the assessment of policing management standards, as Sinn Fein had recommended.