Garda management...

Suaimhneach

The same day a new devision is annouced is the same day that it comes to light money has gone "missing" from a garda station...

Garda investigations in all divisions will be checked for errors by a new internal unit, it emerged today.

The Garda Professional Standards Unit (GPSU) is being established in response to the reports of the Morris Tribunal, which exposed how gardaí in the isolated Donegal Division had framed two innocent men for murder, planted false explosives and lied about their activities.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the unit was a key part of the ongoing reform of the force under the 2005 Garda Act.

“The GPSU will enable An Garda Síochána to ensure that organisational efforts and initiatives are driven strategically and that value for money and international best practise in professional, ethical and human rights standards are maintained,” he said.

It is understood that one of the unit’s key roles will be to examine the investigation files in all Garda divisions and highlight any problems or lines of investigation that are being overlooked.

It will then make firm and appropriate recommendations for improvement where necessary.

The unit is not expected to encounter any resistance from the main garda associations.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said it would be discussing the issue at its national executive next week.

The GPSU will be headed by a Garda Chief Superintendent and will have nearly 30 staff in total.

Although Garda Headquarters had intended to grant more autonomy to garda divisions under its Strategic Management Initiative, the plan had to be re-assessed in the light of the damning Morris Tribunal report.

“The situation through 1996 to 1998 shows appalling management coupled with the manipulation of facts and circumstances in order to present to Garda Headquarters, and to the world at large, an untruthful appearance of honesty and integrity in the Donegal Garda Division,” it said.

The GPSU’s regular examination of Garda investigation files – which include witness statements, job sheets and crime conference notes – are intended to prevent such a scenario re-occurring.

Mr McDowell is also setting up a three-person Ombudsman Commission to deal with complaints against the Gardaí and a Garda Inspectorate, which will operate independently of the Gardaí.

The Morris Tribunal found that there were very poor communications between the Department of Justice and Garda Headquarters during the Donegal scandal.

The Garda Inspectorate will report directly to the Minister for Justice on garda operational policies and strategies.

http://breakingnews.ie/2006/01/06/story238293.html

Up to €40,000 seized in a drugs raids has disappeared from a garda station, it was confirmed tonight.

The Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy has ordered an investigation into the incident at Fitzgibbon Street garda station in Dublin.

“We can confirm the disappearance of a sum of money in Fitzgibbon Street and there is an investigation ongoing in relation to that,” said a Garda spokeswoman.

The money is believed to have been seized in a drugs raid in 2003 but its disappearance only came to light this week.

A Garda superintendent is heading up the investigation into the disappearance.

Labour Party Justice spokesman Joe Costello TD said there should be a full review of the Garda procedures for storing items of evidence and cash seized from suspects.

“This is not a bicycle going astray: it is a huge some of money. We do not know if the money was stolen or simply lost, but I think that members of the public will regard is as extraordinary that there are not water-tight procedures for the secure storage of such sums of money,” he said.

Fitzgibbon Street, which is located in the shadow of Croke Park, is one of the busiest garda stations in Dublin. It has been the centre for high-profile investigations into murder of people such as Farah Swaleh Noor, the 38-year-old Somalian whose remains were found in the Royal Canal last year, and most recently the killing of 21-year-old Martin McLoughlin in Jury’s Hotel on New Year’s Day.

Mr Costello said a firearm, flack jacket and a quantity of drugs had also went missing at Fitzgibbon Street garda station in August 2003. However, this was not confirmed by gardaí.

“I believe that there should be a single designated officer in each Garda Station who would have overall responsibility for the security of items of evidence or cash seizures. This would appear to be the only way to prevent a recurrence of the Fitzgibbon St incident,” said Mr Costello.

http://breakingnews.ie/2006/01/06/story238318.html

Jesus, some of the things that happen in this country past laughable, and just plain worrying.

walshb

The single biggest problem in the Gardai is that they investigate themselves when things go wrong or when complaints are made against them. Where is the credibility in this??

Suaimhneach

Excatly.

This is just another one of those truly "irish" things. How typically inept.

Hagar

I suppose they had to finance it themselves

Lothaar

Jesjes wrote:

Excatly.

This is just another one of those truly "irish" things. How typically inept.

Not really. Not many police forces have an independent body to investigate them, and the ONLY one that is properly resourced, with enough powers to do its job, is O'Loan's office up north.
The new Ombudsman Commission coming in down here will at least give some credibility to the investigation of complaints against Gardaí and the like, although I suspect a lack of resources will hamstring the commission's work.

Suaimhneach

It seems you obviously know more than I do regarding gardaí. Even still I also mean how typically irish and inept it is that the same day they announce it is also the same day loads of money goes missing.

It's in line with Luas systems that cost more than they should and take longer to build than they should. Underground port tunnels that are too smal. Things like the Spire [which I dont hate, but it is another example] which, in the eyes of most people are a waste of time/money.

The list of things that happen in this country that seem entirely stupid is quite long... and the fact that a lot of it is the doing of our government/people in power... it's just plain worrying.