Garda chiefs facing ‘a huge workload’ to review cold cases
GARDA chiefs fear they are facing a huge workload to reclassify deaths and potentially re-examine “cold cases” as part of a homicide review.
A fresh trawl of deaths back to 2003 is set to get under way, with gardaí expecting it will lead to a significant number of cases being reviewed.
The Irish Independent yesterday revealed that already two cases where dead babies had alcohol in their system have been uncovered.
The investigation into the children’s deaths will now have to be re-examined to ensure the original investigations were fit for purpose.
Sources say there are likely to be dozens of cases requiring reassessment before the Policing Authority will be satisfied.
In recent days Acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin has appointed a new “core group” of experienced detectives to take over the project. They will work under the guidance of Assistant Commissioner Orla McPartlin.
“There are instances where post-mortem results do not match with the categorisation on the Pulse system. The question then is whether or not these homicides were treated with the seriousness that they should,” a source said.
It is understood gardaí have also reclassified a number of assault cases. One example cited by a source involves a person who was recorded as having been the victim of an assault, but the file was not updated when they subsequently died as a result.
Some 41 cases between 2013 and 2015 are known to have been probed since the review began 17 months ago. It was believed that a further peerto-peer review of cases dating back to 2003 was nearing completion, but sources said it has stalled.
The Policing Authority expects to get a public update on the situation when it meets with Garda bosses on February 22.
Fianna Fáil has criticised Garda management for a lack of urgency.
The party’s justice spokesperson Jim O’Callaghan told the Irish Independent : “I am concerned that senior Garda management have not treated this review with the seriousness and urgency it deserves.
“It is imperative that gardaí, the Policing Authority and the minister recognise, and take steps to ensure, that this review must be resourced, progressed and completed.”
Gardaí started the review in September 2016, almost two months before it was brought to the attention of senior Garda management.
“In November 2016 it was brought to the attention of senior Garda management that the review was identifying serious issues in relation to the classification and accuracy of homicide data,” said Mr O’Callaghan.
“This matter was subsequently brought to the attention of the Policing Authority in March 2017 and was raised at a meeting of the Authority and senior gardaí in April 2017.”