Garda Ombudsman slams lack of Garda Cooperation in trial involving Gardai

jonsnow

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/gsoc-criticises-lack-of-garda-help-in-case-1.1431057

The reluctance of a small number of gardaí to co-operate with the prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions of four their colleagues in Waterford in 2011 has been criticised by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission which investigated the case.

According to a GSOC report, the behaviour of a small number of gardaí in the case, whom it does not name, led to the emergence of issues in both the investigation and the trial which GSOC believes should be considered by the relevant parties, including the Garda Commissioner.
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“It is a cause of concern to the Ombudsman Commission that documentation which it sought from the Garda Síochána and which was not supplied was then produced in the course of the trial by the defence for certain accused,” stated the GSOC report.

“It is regrettable that the judge in the case (Judge Leonie Reynolds) was caused to wonder at what stage of the proceedings the DPP might have to start treating certain garda witnesses(other than the four accused) as hostile witnesses,” it continued.
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Some pretty outrageous stuff.Material specifically requested by the GSOC was not provided but then turned up in the possession of the accused legal defence teams.Legislation needs to be tightened so that gardai pulling stunts like that get hit with obstruction of justice charges.

Also seems that many gardai closed ranks and changed their story so much that the judge openly wondered if they should now be treated as hostile witnesses.Hopefully these attitudes will change in time but if the gardai keep getting away with treating the GSOC with contempt then it is more likely and not less that these attitudes will prevail.

kerry4sam

jonsnow wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/gsoc-criticises-lack-of-garda-help-in-case-1.1431057



Some pretty outrageous stuff.Material specifically requested by the GSOC was not provided but then turned up in the possession of the accused legal defence teams.Legislation needs to be tightened so that gardai pulling stunts like that get hit with obstruction of justice charges.

Also seems that many gardai closed ranks and changed their story so much that the judge openly wondered if they should now be treated as hostile witnesses.Hopefully these attitudes will change in time but if the gardai keep getting away with treating the GSOC with contempt then it is more likely and not less that these attitudes will prevail.

I am not entirely sure why, but I am not as surprised at reading this as I should be.

Boombastic

Sure the Gardai are a law on to themselves.

InReality

They do keep the scum away from the rest of us though

Hootanany

:cool:

InReality wrote: »

They do keep the scum away from the rest of us though