Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE CHAIRPERSON OF GSOC has said that her organisation lacks the teeth to investigate complaints against members of An Garda Síochána.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring appeared before the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality calling for more powers to be given to the ombudsman to obtain information from gardaí.
She told the committee of TDs and senators that the complaint process was too long.
“If we can reduce it and make it more effective, some of these issues can be resolved,” she said in relation to problems that arise with pay, retirements, promotions and other internal issues as GSOC investigates members.
Ring looked to the committee in her appeal for new legislation that would help GSOC function more effectively.
The judge – who took over the role last year – wants to be able to apply through the courts for an order to compel gardaí to hand over information when required.
Replying to questions from Clare Daly, she noted that there are particular issues around protective disclosures. Later, she confirmed that there are four ongoing investigations in relation to garda whistleblowers.
She conceded that as the force were new to the system, there would be mistakes made on boths sides.
In her contribution, Daly claimed that today’s hearing highlighted “some really serious points”.
She said that while the system for whistleblowers and complainants had improved, it has not been enough to ensure an effective process.
“GSOC cannot do its job as it’s not getting the information,” she said in relation to protection disclosures.
Cases have been there for two years… loyal members are off the payroll and their cases aren’t being investigated. It’s very serious.
Ring conceded that there are people still dissatisfied with GSOC’s work but noted that sometimes the delays in investigations were out of its control.
“There may be valid delays – I’m not saying it’s all the garda fault. Some of our investigators are dealing with other matters. We’ve made improvements in areas we can control. I know the frustration as people write to me as well.”
Ring also wants her organisation freed up to handle serious matters, rather than service-line complaints which she says could be handled internally.
They make up about 20% of the complaints that pass over their desks.
“I would like to see a reduction in our work because people don’t have cause [to complain]…” she said.
“That would give us more time for whistleblowers and serious issues. We could engage as we would have less pressure.”
However, she did warn that culture within police forces is difficult to change and it will not happen overnight.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
And who can investigate the judges and legal eagles with allowing every toe rag going chance after chance after chance. In one door out the other, back out to harass and steal and assault the tax payers funding their dole
They’re not giving many chances to the boy facing a charge of “false imprisonment” in the children’s court at the moment for sitting down behind Joan Burton’s car.
I am sure there is more to it then that. As his Lawyers where trying to stop YouTube videos being used in evidence against him yesterday.
@Billy Mooney: That trial is an absolute disgrace.Poor Joan “terrified”.My backside.Publish the pictures of her laughing,reading the paper.and on her iPhone while “terrified” among a bunch of Gardai.This is only a stunt by those in power and IW to try and scare any other Water Protesters.
Any barrister worth his money will get this case ant the rest thrown out,in spite of that judge.
Vincent,
Here’s a YouTube clip showing that the T.D. in physical danger that day in Jobstown was Paul Murphy, not Joan Burton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8GinTeLFq4&feature=youtu.be
Any garda members who wilfully withhold evidence should be sacked immediately and charged with perverting the course of justice. The fact that not one garda member was sanctioned over the brutal, violent and thug like behaviour against the water preservists of this country shows very clearly how corrupt the “system” is utterly disgusting.
So Billy. Surely these YouTube clips would exonerate this poor innocent young thug I mean boy. Why are his lawyers trying to block the use of them then?
Judge Ring`s view that she needs more powers to investigate the guards confirms what everyone has suspected for years, that GSOC is not a genuine complaints exercise. It is in effect toothless, it`s what the guards want and they will resist change and any form of accountability.
@Patrick James Walsh:
GSOC has the power to arrest gardaí, you know.
@Ciarán Masterson: You hears it from the horse`s mouth GSOC is `toothless`, just as it was intended to be, everyone who has had any engagement with it knows that to be true,, they hand complaints back to the guards themselves to investigate their colleagues and mirabile dictu they are found to have no case to answer. Call that accountability ?
@Clever Jake: GSOC have all the same powers of arrest, detention and search as the Gardaí do. Why should Gardaí be subject to special powers of investigation? Gardaí are citizens too and are entitled to the same protections as everyone else. Everyone has to be treated equally before the law, so if new powers are to be introduced then they should apply to Gardai and non Gardaí alike.
Ah jesus now they want a dental plan as well????
We all know the GSOC has no real power, barely better than Garda investigating Garda, all only a show, a law ont9 themselves
Ring and Daly, wow there’s two non biased non garda hating people!
Gsoc already possess more powers to investigate gardai than the gardai tackling murderers , terrorists and gangsters. what more do they want????
Maybe gardai would trust them more if their sole reason for existing wasn’t to prosecute gardai but ignore false and malicious complaints.
Who is tired of this crap in this pathetic farcical country? We have quangos up to the eyeballs and most of them do nothing but cost millions to maintain. It just amounts to sub-troughs on the main trough for all the greedy, corrupt little piggies. GSOC was established to replaced the older internal affairs quango because it had more powers and that was needed to do it’s job and now 10 years after its establishment it is complaining of not having enough powers to do it’s job. WHAT A JOKE.
There’s a great place in enniskillen for cheap dentures
Budapest boss. Only job
@Alan Kelly’s Ego: she should forget the idea,,,none of our investigation units are given teeth,, they might end up biting
Two of your sentences start with “Ring…………”
The correct designation is “Judge Ring or Ms. Justice Ring ……”
@Tony Shaw: She is not a Judge while appointed as a GSOC commissioner…so ring is just fine.
@Patrick James Walsh: so Gsoc aren’t bothered dealing with minor complaints and that proves they are toothless? Strange logic
@Karl Carroll: The Garda authorities and representative bodies fought tooth and nail against the setting up of the ombudsman`s office, and had to be brought kicking and screaming into the 21st century like every other modern police force, but they were bought off by the assurance that it would be a window dressing exercise with no real powers or sanctions for it`s members, as it has proved to be, and the new chairperson has now confirmed this, at the Oireachtas committee. What`s your point ?
The government won’t support her in this. Gardai have to be free to do the work of political police. Guarding the government from the people.
People really need to stop sticking the tongues up the Gardai arse. In most countries this is a welcomed statement/ article, here we have denial. Don’t see why the people here don’t want anymore oversight of the Gardai. Think it might be a inferiority complex.
have your say