Garda inspectorate report finds Garda up to their necks in pedo priests cover up

dochartaigh

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0203/1224311174966.html


A failure to protect

"A REPORT by the Garda Inspectorate into consistent failures by members of the force to properly investigate, record and prosecute cases of child sex abuse makes for disturbing reading. An excessively deferential approach and a reluctance to apply for search warrants to secure church records are suggested as contributory factors. It sounds familiar. Hasn’t that kind of weak-kneed reaction to potentially illegal or criminal actions by senior church, business, banking and political individuals been tolerated for decades?

It is important to realise that this investigation was ordered in the aftermath of the Murphy report concerning clerical sex abuse in the Dublin archdiocese and it deals with criticisms of the Garda Síochána from 2009. The report was delivered in 2010, as public anger over denials and cover-ups by the Catholic hierarchy overflowed and a fresh investigation was launched in the Cloyne diocese. In the circumstances, withholding the document to avoid the Garda being caught up in public condemnations was understandable. The official reason given for the delay was “legal constraints”.


Poor management, indiscipline and inadequate Garda record-keeping has come under scrutiny in recent years. The Morris tribunal, which investigated corruption in Donegal, recommended the establishment of a Garda Inspectorate to review professional standards and to promote best international practice. In this case, it found that record-keeping was so poor that up to 65 per cent of sex crimes against children were not officially noted. Many were not recorded as criminal offences. And a poor level of co-operation existed between the Garda and the Health Service Executive in responding to abuse cases.

Public bodies and successive governments have failed to protect and uphold the rights of children and vulnerable individuals. Months before the Murphy report generated public anger and consternation, the Ryan report into similar abuses within religious-run institutions found that, by their silence and inactivity, State agencies had colluded in the physical and sexual abuse of children. Given such unambiguous condemnation of official laxity, it became necessary to implement recommendations from the Garda Inspectorate report before releasing the document.

The good news is that many of the proposed reforms have been put in place, including a change of policy that allows sex abuse complaints through a third party to be investigated. Gardaí have been specially trained to interview children and Garda authorities have made it clear that deference to the church has no place in criminal investigations. These are positive developments that will enhance public confidence and address any suggestion that canon law should take precedence over State authority. Traditional mind-sets and public attitudes are changing towards those in authority. The law is designed to uphold civilised standards and to punish transgressors. For a democracy to function effectively, the rules must apply to everyone, without exception."

This state is/was sick to the absolute core.

The so-called representatives of divine authority on this earth and the state have been clearly in collusion in covering up the most horrific crimes against the most innocent and vulnerable

im sure there are many good garda out there will find this report absolutely sickening.

If only more garda had spoken out like martin ridge who investigated the pedo priests nesthole in NW donegal and wrote the book "breaking the silence"

has anyone managed to find a copy of the original report

nice_guy80

So now if the Gardai are given a report about alleged abuse or neglect, how is it handled?
Look at the recent cases in Roscommon and Mayo where children were abused and neglected by their parents over a long period of time

Can the Gardai be trusted to investigate all matters to the fullest of the law???

Defiler Of The Coffin

What time-frame are we talking about here? I don't think this will come as a shock to many people, the Garda weren't the only sector of Irish society that were in deference to the church. Canon Law for the church, Human Law for the rest.

Manach

The original post has cherry picked references to the Church in this.
In an another IT article - the Church is mentioned but once and no mention is made about the high level of compliance in child care standards compared to the HSE. As well, it highlights problems with the HSE/Guards over recent abuse allegations engaging in "turf wars".
Thus the OP is helping official Ireland's attempt to blame others for their own inepitude.

irishh_bob

police showing deference to powerfull institutions ( and individuals ) is nothing new , its always been this way in this country , anyone that has ever dealt with an garda siochanna in any meaningfull way is well aware of how politcal it is as an orginisation

Wild_Dogger

Im not at all surprised .......

not in the slightest

irishh_bob

irishh_bob wrote: »

police showing deference to powerfull institutions ( and individuals ) is nothing new , its always been this way in this country , anyone that has ever dealt with an garda siochanna in any meaningfull way is well aware of how politcal it is as an orginisation

absolutely, a key factor is the fact that superintent ranks and above are appointed by the government

Anita M.

They protect their own...now you know what they all are.
I read a leaflet informing me that 60% of all girls under the HSE are pregnant under their care and watchfull eye.

In the paper it read that in one case 9 cases of sexual abuse were reported as only one and so they keep the count low.

The only way to change that is by going out on the streets like we did with the priests.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0202/breaking13.html