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Bailey makes complaint to Garda Ombudsman

  • 02-03-2012 8:55pm
    #1
    jonsnow
    Registered Users Posts: 724 ✭✭✭


    The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has begun an inquiry into a complaint from Ian Bailey over the Garda investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

    Mr Bailey claims the investigation into the French film-maker’s murder in Schull, Co Cork in 1996 was flawed and prejudiced against him from the start.

    He also alleges gardaí tried to have political pressure applied on the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge him, despite the DPP already having ruled there was insufficient evidence for a charge.

    Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has confirmed the complaint has been made by Mr Bailey and the commission has accepted it for investigation. "I believe that it is clearly desirable that these matters be investigated in the public interest and that the Ombudsman Commission is the appropriate body to do so,” the Minister said.

    The commission was established in 2005 to investigate complaints against gardaí. However, it can open investigations into issues that arose long before its establishment once it believes it is in the public interest to do so.

    The complaint from Mr Bailey is now likely to begin a protracted and complex investigation by the commission into the Garda’s handling of the investigation into the murder and the force’s subsequent allegedly prejudiced treatment of Mr Bailey and his partner Jules Thomas.

    One woman was arrested for questioning about the murder despite the DPP telling gardaí not to arrest her and despite her never having been a suspect.

    The allegation that gardai tried to move the investigation forward by applying political pressure on the DPP is another very serious matter for the commission to examine.

    All of these issues were revealed in documentation that came to light during the Supreme Court hearing into Mr Bailey’s appeal against being extradited to France, where the police have now set up their own investigation into the murder.

    Mr Bailey’s appeal was upheld yesterday and he will not be extradited.

    However, during the case a report compiled by the former DPP Eamon Barnes came to light. It was effectively an appraisal of how the gardaí had run the murder investigation. It was very critical of the Garda and outlined all of the serious concerns that now form the basis of Mr Bailey’s complaint.

    When the existence of this report was in November brought to the attention of the Attorney General and Mr Shatter, arrangements were immediately made to furnish it to the legal team representing Mr Bailey at the Supreme Court case that concluded yesterday.

    The material was also circulated to all of the other legal teams involved in the case.

    Also now under investigation is the issue of how such a significant report by a former DPP did not come to light earlier, particularly when the High Court considered, and granted, the request by the French authorities to have Mr Bailey extradited there.

    A statement by the Department of Justice this afternoon confirmed that the non-emergence of the report for so long is now under examination.

    “The Minister is consulting with the Attorney General with regard to the matter of the documentation in the Director of Public Prosecutions’ office only first emerging subsequent to the proceedings having been determined in the High Court and only shortly prior to the hearing of the Supreme Court Appeal in which judgments were delivered yesterday,” the statement said.

    This is by far the most challenging investigation the GSOC has had to deal with it.Do you think they will be capable of handling such a complex and explosive case with so many issues?


Comments

  • #2
    Eru
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,357 ✭✭✭Eru


    DPP can't tell Gardai not to arrest people. They are not in charge of An Garda Siochana


  • #3
    shampon
    Registered Users Posts: 580 ✭✭✭shampon


    Omnibusman...:rolleyes:


  • #4
    Our man in Havana
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,476 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    What is Bailey trying to achieve?


  • #5
    goldie fish
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,195 ✭✭✭goldie fish


    Our man in Havana wrote: »
    What is Bailey trying to achieve?

    Prove his innocence to those convinced "there's no smoke without fire".


  • #6
    Zambia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,333 ✭✭✭Zambia


    If investigations/enquirys of this nature are like I remember.
    • It will take years
    • Millions will be spent
    • No one will be responsible


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  • #7
    kub
    Registered Users Posts: 6,528 ✭✭✭kub


    What is the position so if one of the then investigating officers has retired.
    I mean do the GSOC have any power? when they will now be, with all intensive purposes, dealing with a member of the public?


  • #8
    ratonrouge
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭ratonrouge


    The GSOC will need to get its remit extended and its budget increased to deal with this case and so many others that will be coming up as people become more aware of their rights and less tolerant of mistreatment.
    Kub - Do you mean " for all intents and purposes"?


  • #9
    Bosh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 414 ✭✭Bosh


    ratonrouge wrote: »
    The GSOC will need to get its remit extended and its budget increased to deal with this case and so many others that will be coming up as people become more aware of their rights and less tolerant of mistreatment.
    Kub - Do you mean " for all intents and purposes"?

    Care to expand?


  • #10
    dilallio
    Registered Users Posts: 2,728 ✭✭✭dilallio


    Our man in Havana wrote: »
    What is Bailey trying to achieve?
    One of his issues is there's a European warrant out for his arrest. It was raised by the French authorities.

    While he is safe in Ireland as a result of the recent Supreme Court decision not to extradite him, he cannot travel anywhere else as he may be arrested there and sent to France.

    I would think that if the Ombudsman rules in his favour, the French authorities may then withdraw this warrant.


  • #11
    Zambia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,333 ✭✭✭Zambia


    dilallio wrote: »
    One of his issues is there's a European warrant out for his arrest. It was raised by the French authorities.

    While he is safe in Ireland as a result of the recent Supreme Court decision not to extradite him, he cannot travel anywhere else as he may be arrested there and sent to France.

    I would think that if the Ombudsman rules in his favour, the French authorities may then withdraw this warrant.
    Why French police have convinced a French Judge presumably on the strength of their collected evidence not the Gardas...


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  • #12
    Our man in Havana
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,476 ✭✭✭✭Our man in Havana


    dilallio wrote: »
    One of his issues is there's a European warrant out for his arrest. It was raised by the French authorities.

    While he is safe in Ireland as a result of the recent Supreme Court decision not to extradite him, he cannot travel anywhere else as he may be arrested there and sent to France.

    I would think that if the Ombudsman rules in his favour, the French authorities may then withdraw this warrant.
    I doubt the result of the GSOC complaint will make any difference.

    Bailey is essentially a prisoner of Ireland.


  • #13
    Ellis Dee
    Registered Users Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭Ellis Dee


    Our man in Havana wrote: »
    What is Bailey trying to achieve?


    It could be that he is exercising his right, one that every citizen and everyone else legally resident in the State has, to demand that the legality of actions by certain Gardai - persons who exercise public power - be subjected to scrutiny and, if it it found that they have acted unlawfully, that appropriate measures be taken.:):)


  • #14
    goldie fish
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,195 ✭✭✭goldie fish


    Zambia wrote: »
    Why French police have convinced a French Judge presumably on the strength of their collected evidence not the Gardas...

    Not how it works out there. The Judge tells the police to investigate person X. Unfortunately, the french system means that often those who "upset" the french legal families suffer at the hands of the law.


  • #15
    Eru
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,357 ✭✭✭Eru


    Zambia wrote: »
    Why French police have convinced a French Judge presumably on the strength of their collected evidence not the Gardas...

    They don't operate a common law legal system like we do but instead a system called the Napoleonic code. I'm not 100% but my understanding is Judges tend to take a more active role in investigations and prosecutions. At least that tends to be the case in other European systems.
    Our man in Havana wrote: »
    Bailey is essentially a prisoner of Ireland.
    I personally doubt the warrant could be executed in most European countries. Too be honest I question if the French even expected it to work as the application contravened a number of the rules for an EAW.


  • #16
    Hooch
    Registered Users Posts: 4,957 ✭✭✭Hooch


    Eru wrote: »
    Too be honest I question if the French even expected it to work as the application contravened a number of the rules for an EAW.

    Id go one further......does it cast doubt on some EAW?? How did it make it out there and to such a high court without being noticed?


  • #17
    goldie fish
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,195 ✭✭✭goldie fish


    The limitations of legislation is only realised when it is tested in court. Possibly the French decided to see how far they could go.


  • #18
    Eru
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,357 ✭✭✭Eru


    Hooch wrote: »
    Id go one further......does it cast doubt on some EAW?? How did it make it out there and to such a high court without being noticed?

    as Goldie Said I suppose, keep going and going.
    goldie fish wrote: »
    The limitations of legislation is only realised when it is tested in court. Possibly the French decided to see how far they could go.

    how much did it cost a cash strapped country though just to satisfy the French curiosity? And should a Judge be issuing a warrant based on that? I think it was yourself who suggested the French legal system is a little slanted.


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