Who do we call to sort Garda mess?

MAGICALLY, we’re being told that enormous improvements have already been made in reducing the number of cancellations of 999 emergency calls to gardaí. Domestic violence calls are now only being improperly cancelled, or ignored, at just one-third the previous rate – down from 6% to 2%.

Which means that 20 women suffering domestic violence, out of every 1,000 calls for help, are still being left high and dry, unprotected and ignored.

This is supposed to be good news following tighter procedures governing 999 calls imposed at the end of last year, when it was discovered that the system was banjaxed, entirely unfit for purpose.

That translates into terrorised and abused children having to make do, battered women being forced to endure a continuing nightmare.

All this good news about improvements with the emergency call system are, of course, distractions – the kind that singer/songwriter Mick Hanly made famous in his wonderful song Past The Point Of Rescue.

Hanly’s song title also raises the pertinent question about the gardaí – is a rescue possible?

The indications are not good so far. Little appears to have been learned from recent disasters – whistleblowers, vastlyinflated drink driving breath tests, questions about financial irregularities at Templemore and underreporting of homicides.

Two significant matters arise from the 999 calls scandal. Firstly, will the only response be an internal Garda review, despite criticism that it does not go far enough?

The National Women’s Council, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Survivors Informing Services Institutions and Free Legal Advice Centres are on record demanding an independent review. This, they say, should be carried out by the Policing Authority and bring in the Garda Inspectorate and victims’ rights experts.

Surely, at this late stage, we should all know that on such a vital and sensitive matter, the gardaí should not be tasked with reviewing itself? We’ve seen where that has brought us before.

Secondly, what is Justice Minister Heather Humphreys, pictured, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the entire Government going to do about a file in the Department of

Justice claiming there was an attempt to cover up the 999 emergency calls scandal?

All this involves, as well, the Policing Authority, which was kept in the dark on this disaster until a protected disclosure was made to Bob Collins a few weeks ago.

What’s his next move?

The Garda is in another enormous crisis of its own making.

And, seeing as how the minister appears to be sitting on her hands, the question is: who do we call?