Madam, - I read with interest Damien Tiernan's letter of May 1st concerning media coverage of recent events in Clonroche, Co Wexford.
I share his concerns about standards of accuracy in reporting such incidents. An Garda Síochána has noted, with regret, a growing tendency for many elements of the media to report speculation, conjecture and local gossip as fact. Unfortunately, our experience is that this is not confined to the so-called tabloid press but can occasionally be found in other areas of print and broadcast media. This practice is not just deeply hurtful to individuals or families touched by such incidents, but it can also undermine investigations.
I must, reluctantly, however take issue with the implication in Mr Tiernan's letter that a failure by An Garda Síochána to "work closely with journalists" contributed in some way to a vacuum in which "lies or innuendo" were "spawned".
Those of us responsible for Garda communications appreciate that, when tragedies occur, communities seek explanations to help them understand what has happened. We also appreciate the significant job the media has to do in covering these events.
Unfortunately, this often gives rise to a media demand for answers when answers cannot yet be given because a true understanding of what precisely occurred is not available or because the publication of details would cause undue distress to those most closely affected or potentially damage further investigation or prosecutions.
While operating within these restrictions, the Garda press office endeavours to meet media demands for information. In the hours after this particular event, the press office dealt with a large volume of media queries. However, of necessity, our response was guarded and tentative as we indicated that the true picture of what occurred had not been established. In the following days we organised two comprehensive media briefings which set out those facts which we were in a position to confirm. Establishing a full and accurate picture of precisely what happened in such instances requires painstaking and careful deployment of a range of investigative techniques, including detailed forensic and technical explorations. By their nature these investigations, while comprehensive, do not lend themselves to quick answers.
Gardaí can and will disseminate information only when we are satisfied that it is factual and that it will not harm an investigation or infringe the personal rights and dignity of the deceased or their families.
It is not our role to release information to fill a vacuum, to speculate as to the cause of events, or to fill in gaps in the personal backgrounds of individuals involved. We cannot accept that our refusal to do so can justify or explain the inappropriate and speculative manner in which some elements of the media choose to report. - Yours, etc,
SINÉAD MCSWEENEY, Director of Communications, An Garda Síochána, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8.