*Photograph: Natasha Barton
Repeated criticisms of suspensions of eight Limerick based Gardaí have been aired by a Clare TD.
Speaking in the Dáil earlier this month, Deputy Cathal Crowe (FF) described the suspension of eight Limerick Gardaí since November 8th 2020 as part of an investigation into alleged squaring away of road traffic offences as a “witch-trial”.
Alleged “corruption in public office” is the reasoning for the suspension but no charges have been brought against the eight.
Deputy Crowe stated, “You could almost call the Limerick Garda Division ‘Salem’ at the moment, because there’s a form of witch-trial being going on for the last two years there. Eight members suspended, 60 garda phones confiscated, moral has never been lower”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Crowe said the investigation has been “fully procrastinated” and “dragged on to everyone’s detriment”.
At Monday’s meeting of the Clare JPC, Deputy Crowe raised the matter with the Garda Commissioner. He began by asking if the principle of discretion was still taught to Gardaí when training in Templemore and if it was applied when enforcing the road traffic act.
“Discretion is taught from the very first day of training of An Garda Síochána in Templemore,” Commissioner Harris responded. “It is an essential part of our functioning as a police service”.
Of Clare’s approximate population of 118,000, an estimated 16,000 come under the Limerick Garda Division who have Gardaí with a “shroud of suspicion hanging over them,” Deputy Crowe remarked. He said the ongoing investigation was “harrowing” for the families involved. “If they are guilty, they need to be found guilty, if not they need a chance to show that that”.
A difference exists between discretion and preference, Commissioner Harris responded. “I would say it to every member of An Garda Síochána, preference is unfair, every one of us should be treated equally by the law. All of us have an expectation that we get same treatment before the law”.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Commissioner Harris added, “We understand that a crime investigation is stressful for members of An Garda Síochána but this work must be done, we must make sure that people can trust An Garda Síochána to be entirely trustworthy and honest in their dealings with them, any of these investigations that we undertake are essential for public confidence in the organisation, they are expedited and dealt with as quickly as possible, we do report these matters to the Director of Public Prosecution”.
