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GSOC HAS WELCOMED the Cooke report, quoting how the inquiry found that it “acted in good faith”.
The inquiry was carried out into the alleged bugging of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) by retired High Court Judge John Cooke.
GSOC has said that it agrees with the Judge’s observation that “the evidence does not support the proposition that actual surveillance of the kind asserted in the Sunday Times article took place and much less that it was carried out by members of the Garda Síochána”.
GSOC says that this mirrors key findings of their own investigation which stated that GSOC was “satisfied that our databases were not compromised” and that “there was no evidence of garda misconduct.”
The report also stated that “in the world of covert surveillance and counter surveillance techniques, it is ultimately extremely difficult to determine with complete certainty whether unexplained anomalies of the kinds identified in this instance were or were not attributable to unlawful intrusion”.
Working Relationship
The acting Commissioner of the An Garda Síochána Nóirín O’Sullivan has said that she is currently reviewing the Cooke report.
“An Garda Síochána acknowledges Judge Cooke’s finding that ‘the evidence does not support the proposition that actual surveillance…took place and much less that it was carried out by members of the Garda Síochána’.
An Garda Síochána also acknowledges that the working relationship between An Garda Síochána and GSOC needs to be more constructive.
“The relationship does continue to improve and An Garda Síochána is committed to building on that positive engagement with GSOC so as to ensure that there is an independent, objective and effective relationship between us, which is vital for maintaining public trust in policing”.
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Bit of egg on the face of GSOC….
Omelette on the face of Sunday Times journo…
@kris, how is it egg on GSOC face, they were under surveillance or are you telling me you believe this pile of Cook ,
Lm group, they were not under any kind of surveillance. How on earth can you suggest they were?
As expected garda and gsoc pick out the phrases in the report that make them look good and ‘agree with the findings’ and ‘welcome the report’.
Beware of the voices LM Group…
The GSOC has proved to be a useless and garda controlled organisation.
It is in no way an independent watchdog of there are currently serving Garda members in GSOC.
GSOC needs to be destroyed and replaced with a fully independent body with actual power to seek out and repair faults and corruption in An Garda Siochana. It’s as simple as that.
the gardai get red thumbs pressing buttons hereon
Not Simon O Brien, still toughing it out , Imagine that lad doing an investigation, he’s been told , and told, but no he is still right, everyone is wrong, a major clear out in that place needed ASAP.
Fair play to you for gaining internet access in the padded cell Harold.
Hi harry. Hey listen do I get that summons yet from you?
See folks harry wants to sue me for a couple of observations I made about him. Still waiting harry
Noirin is looking at it, well all her senior management are in daily contact with GSOC and are cooperating fully with them, o wait there not, imagine the lads filling Noirin full of crap and letting her tell the Dail a pack of lies and then her having to go back in an retract your statement , time for a clear out
100% True.
When the politicians of all parties get their grubby hands off the appointment of senior Gardai, when an outsider is appointed Commissioner and when active Gardai are removed from GSOC then maybe a measure of credibility might be restored all round.
have your say