Harris defends Garda ‘corruption’ inquiry
FF TD claimed investigation is ‘harrowing’ for officers
THE Garda Commissioner has defended an ongoing so-called corruption inquiry into members of the Limerick division – after hearing a Government TD claim that it ‘is tearing many lives apart’.
In Ennis to address the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC), Drew Harris said he understands how a criminal investigation is stressful for members of the force – but that ‘this work must be done’.
Asked to respond to comments made by Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe on the impact the investigation into the alleged treatment by certain gardaí in the Limerick division of fixed-charge penalties, Mr Harris said: ‘We must make sure that people can trust An Garda Síochána to be entirely trustworthy and honest in their dealings with them.’
He added: ‘Any of these investigations we undertake are essential for public confidence in the organisation, but also that they are expedited and dealt with as quickly as possible.’
At the meeting, Deputy Crowe told Commissioner Harris that he has to move the investigation on ‘and needs to engage with this more effectively’.
Mr Crowe said eight members of the force in Limerick have been suspended as part of an investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) ‘concerning a charge of corruption against many in the Limerick Garda Division’.
He claimed 60 gardaí in Limerick are being investigated concerning the alleged ‘squaring off’ of fixedcharge penalty notices.
Mr Crowe told the meeting that the inquiry ‘encompasses too many people and is harrowing for the families involved’.
The politician went on to tell Commissioner Harris that many of the gardaí are young and unable to progress in their careers, ‘because there is a cloud of suspicion hanging over them’.
The Clare TD said: ‘Like any judicial process, this needs to be speeded up. If they are guilty they need to be found guilty and they need to face the sanctions that are appropriate but if they are not guilty they need that chance to be before a court and to prove themselves.’
Mr Crowe said: ‘This is tearing many lives apart and you as a commissioner need to engage with this more effectively.’
The deputy said that if there was a culture in the past of a county hurling star or a politician being pulled over by a garda, and maybe their fines were waived, ‘that was wrong and I get the reason why An Garda Síochána want to curb that’. Mr Harris said he was constrained in what he could say in response to Mr Crowe’s comments. He added said that he took very seriously the comments concerning the expediting of the investigation. He said that he is regularly updated on the investigation, and told Deputy Crowe: ‘I am personally engaged with these matters.’ On the issue of fixed-charge penalty notices being waived, Commissioner Harris said: ‘The difficulty is the difference between discretion and preference.
‘I would say to every member of An Garda Síochána that properly exercised discretion is available to you but make sure that it is not preference.’
He added: ‘Preference is unfair – everyone must be treated equally before the law.’
Asked what impact recent incidents putting gardaí in a negative light is having on the morale of rank-and-file members, Commissioner Harris said that he has a basic duty to ensure that the organisation conducts itself well and that people have confidence in members of An Garda Síochána in terms of their treatment of all members of the public.
‘Essential for public confidence in force’