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GARDA COMMISSIONER NÓIRÍN O’Sullivan has announced a “radical restructuring” of parts of An Garda Síochana in the wake of the breath test and fixed charge notice scandals.
Speaking at a press conference at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park this afternoon, O’Sullivan said that the policing of roads and divisional management will undergo major changes.
It followed the baffling discovery last week that almost one million random breath tests that never happened were recorded on internal garda systems over the last five years. Separately, almost 15,000 summonses to court were wrongly issued to drivers over the past ten years.
At today’s press conference, O’Sullivan noted the “disquiet” around the two problems, saying that they were potentially major ethical issues. “It gives us no comfort to say that we’ve identified these issues,” she told reporters. “What is very important is what have we done about it”.
When asked whether she would resign over the motion of no-confidence in her leadership which is due to take place in the Dáil next week, O’Sullivan would not say yes or no but indicated that she would not step down, repeatedly saying that she was committed to implementing reform in An Garda Síochana.
“I have a journey of work that I have to do and I have to make sure that I see out that commitment,” she said. “We have to keep the lights on while we’re rewiring the house”.
She repeatedly stressed that she was putting “corrective action” in place “to stop these things from happening again”.
The focus now, she said, is on “who, where and what” exactly caused the two issues.
She assured the public that “if we identify any individual or any group of individuals… it will be addressed,” repeatedly describing what is happening in the gardaí as “a matter of real cultural reform”.
“We are going to identify things that are wrong, things that are broken”.
“We are absolutely committed and determined to address the issues”.
Reporting by Michelle Hennessy and Nicky Ryan
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They realised they were in Roscommon
@Brian Buckley: yeah. Seems the idea of being on Roscommon is so unappealing that they’re not even having the talk about it anywhere near Roscommon. They’re going to Kilkenny instead.
What about water charges. USC and property taxes !
Roscommon is a beautiful county with plenty to see and do. People should visit and see for themselves before judging.
@Roisin Carty: what is to see and do?
@Roisin Carty:yea, theres the field, the holy stone of clonrichert, the very dark caves….
@Roisin Carty: I love lough key forest park, there’s a zip wire network set up there that’s so much fun, spend the day on the ‘assault’ courses and I tried the Boda Borg thing before too (think Chrystal Maze puzzle rooms) and the grounds themselves are beautiful. Looks like visiting rindoon is now on my list of places to visit
@Roisin Carty: I was in Westport last week and headed for Donegal. Missed a turn and ended up in Roscommon. It was grim to say the least.
Tulsk reminded me of the village in the League of Gentlemen, Royston Vasey.
“the local land owner is supportive of the extensive conservation work”
Nice to see.
Must go for a look.
Was it because of poor broadband coverage ?
This would make an excellent Time Team episode
@Daniel Wilson: Nah, they would have to discuss the English policy here that lasted for centuries were the homeless Irish were killed because they were homeless, ethnic cleansing for travellers and the homeless.
Probably abandoned due to delays in the Shannon drainage scheme.
Because they all headed to Galway
@David Cloherty: on a stag. Shop street has them now.
@David Cloherty: To Hell or to Galway lol.
High unemployment?
St John’s Primeval Natural Oak Woodland( the only one in the country ) is beside it so there ! So get down there before it all goes belly up from Leo’s “republic of opportunity ” the race to the bottom etc
Must have been lost first day,wouldnt visit there at gunpoint
what is so unusual about a deserted Irish village,most of them are.!!!!
have your say