‘GARDA INCOMPETENCE SHOULD NOT BE COVERED UP AND LAZINESS MUST BE CALLED TO ACCOUNT’

AN Garda Síochána must be a place where incompetence is not covered up and laziness is called to account, said Judge Peter Charleton in his third report from the Disclosures Tribunal.

Writing in his report, Judge Charleton outlined eight obligations that he suggests the members of An Garda Síochána should try to fulfil.

He said gardaí should consider these obligations to be ‘superior to any false sense that individual policemen and police woman should stick up for each other’.

In the report, Mr Charleton said that the system of Garda discipline is not fit for purpose. He also took issue with the lack of gardaí, as he sees it, who are visible to the public, saying ‘it is extraordinarily rare that gardaí are seen in uniform on the streets’.

Mr Justice Charleton outlined that gardaí should be honest, polite, take pride in their work and uniform, as well as conduct their work in the service of the people of Ireland.

He also said that the organisation should self-analyse and reflect so lessons can be learned for the future.

‘What has been missing in the past is the command structure of An Garda Síochána calling itself to account,’ he said.

In a statement last night, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that An Garda Síochána fully accepts the finding of the Charleton Tribunal.

‘Mr Justice Charleton’s Report makes for difficult reading for the organisation, but it is vital that we take it as an opportunity to change how we operate so we provide a professional and ethical service to the public,’ he said.

‘I will be establishing a group to examine Mr Justice Charleton’s findings,’ he said. Commissioner Harris added that he will ensure that the gardaí is a safe environment for people to raise issues or concerns.