Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
NickyKellyafterhewasfreedfromprisonin1984.Photograph:TomLawlor/TheIrishTimes
TheGardahasbeendoggedbycontroversyandscandaloverthelastnumberofyearsinparticular.
However,controversyhasnoteverbeenfarfromtheforce.Herearesomeofthemainreportsand
debaclesdatingbackasfarasthe1970s.
However,theywereconvictedafterthelongestcriminaltrialinIrelandatthetime,heardbeforethe
nonjurySpecialCriminalCourt.
AfirsttrialwasabandonedwhenoneofthethreeSpecialCriminalCourtjudges,CircuitCourtJudge
JohnOConnor,diedmidtrialafterconstantlyfallingasleepincourt.
Breatnachreceiveda12yearsentence,asdidKelly(whohadjumpedbailandfledtoAmerica).
McNallygotnineyears.
InMay1980,theCourtofCriminalAppealquashedtheconvictionsofBreatnachandMcNally.Inthe
samemonth,theIRAclaimedresponsibilityforthetheft.
NickyKellyhadreturnedfromAmericainJune1980butdisappearedintoajudicialandcustodial
blackholewhichhedidnotbreakfreeofuntilJuly1984.
Thiswasbecausethecourtsruledhemustserveoutthesentence,thesameonejustsetasideforhisco
convicted,because,technically,thetimeduringwhichhecouldappealhisconvictionhadpassed.
Hewasfreedonhumanitariangroundsin1984andlaterreceivedapresidentialpardon.Allthreewere
alsocompensatedwithsumssaidtobebetween400,000and750,000each.
Heavy Gang
ThemonikerwasappliedtoagroupofGardamemberswhowereallegedtohaveassaultedand
threatenedsuspectsandusedotherformsofpressureonthemduringthe1970s.
Allegationsofcoercionlitteredmurdertrials,withlengthylegalargumenttakingplaceregularlyabout
theadmissibilityofevidence.
Atthetime,especiallywiththeTroublesworseningintheNorth,somegardabelievedtheyhad
licencetoextractconfessionsbyforce.Andbecauseforensicswereonlyintheirinfancy,confessions
wereheavilyreliedupon.
A1977AmnestyInternationalreportallegingilltreatmentofprisonersbygardalookedat28cases
involvingsuchallegationswhileinpolicecustody.Theywerebackedupmedicalandotherevidence.
ItfoundthenamesofcertainGardamembersappearedrepeatedlyincaseswheretheyweredispatched
fromDublintoseriouscrimeinvestigationsnationwideandwhereconfessionswerethensecured.
Theabusesrangedfrompushingandshovingtoseverebeatings,andfoodandwaterdeprivation.
TheCriminalJusticeAct1984andtheregulationsmadeunderitintroducedacodetoensurethe
appropriatetreatmentofpersonsdetainedinaGardastation.Italsoprovidedforvideorecordingof
interviewsandcomplaintsifmaltreatmentbegantostop.
Kerry Babies
InApril1984anewbornbabyboywasfoundonabeach,WhiteStrand,Cahersiveen,CoKerry,
stabbedtodeath.Awomanwholivedlocally,JoanneHayes,wasarrested.Shehadbeenpregnant
aroundthattime.Confessionsweresecuredfromherandherfamilyoverthemurderofthechild.
However,theconfessionswerewithdrawnandthefamilysaidtheyhadbeenbeatenandcoercedbythe
Garda.TheysaidJoannehadgivenbirthtoababyonthefamilyfarminAbbeydorney.Theyaddedthe
babyhaddiedafterbirthandhadbeenburiedinsecretonthefarm.
Testsonremainslaterfoundonthefarmsupportedtheirversionofaccounts.Thebabyfoundonthe
farmwasfoundtohavebloodtypeAthesameasHayesandJeremiahLocke,themarriedmanwho
fatheredthechild.ThebabyfoundonthebeachhadbloodtypeO.
WhilethechargesagainstJoannaHayesweredroppedshewassubjectedtoverystrongcross
examinationatthesubsequentKerryBabiesTribunal.
MrJusticeKevinLynchclearedtheGardaofcoercingtheconfessionsbutneverexplainedhowthe
falseconfessionswereobtained.Themurdersquadwasdisbandedintheaftermathofthecontroversy.
Morris Tribunal
ThetribunalinvestigatedallegationsofwrongdoingandcorruptionintheDonegaldivisionandran
from2002to2008.ItconcludedthatsomegardainDonegalhadfabricatedexplosivesfindsandhad
plantedfirearmsinordertojustifythearrestsoftargetedpeople.
Italsofoundsomemembershadfabricatedinformantsandintelligencereceived.Ingeneraltermsit
concludedsubordinationwasrifeintheGardaanddisciplineintheforcewasbreakingdown.
TheGardaComplaintsBoardwasheldineffectiveindealingwithcomplaintsfromthepublicabout
wrongdoingbyindividualgarda.
M
embers of the public viewing a video link to the hearing of the
Morris Tribunal in Donegal. Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times
TheStatesresponsewastheGardaSochnaAct.ItprovidedfortheGardaSochnaOmbudsman
Commission(Gsoc)andtheGardaInspectorate.Gsocisanindependentagencythatinvestigates
allegationsagainstGardamembers.Theinspectorateexaminesareasofpolicingandadvisesonreform.
AnumberofotherreviewswerealsocarriedoutincludingintohowtheGardahandlesinformants,
witharegisterofinformantsintroduced.Anumberofmeasureswerealsoimplementedtomakeit
easierforGardawhistleblowerstocomeforwardincludingthecreationofaconfidentialrecipientto
receivecomplaintsinconfidencefromgardaaboutmalpracticeintheforce.
JohnCarthy(27),whosufferedfrommanicdepression,wasshotbytwomembersoftheGarda
EmergencyResponseUnit(ERU)outsidehisAbbeylarahomeonApril20th,2000,followinga25
hourarmedstandoff.
TheBarrTribunalfoundthatGardanegligenceanddefectivemanagementledtohisdeath.TheGarda
wascriticisedforitslackofpreparednesstorespondtoandmanagementarmedsieges.
However,thenministerforjusticeMichaelMcDowellwascriticalofwhathesawastheTribunals
failuretotackletheeventsthatresultedinJohnCarthybeingclearedbyamedicalprofessionalto
possessafirearm.
TheTribunalresultedinanoverhauloftheGardastrainingandequipmentforarmedincidents,
includingtheintroductionofnonlethalweapons.AndwhentheGardaInspectoratereviewedtheBarr
ReportitrecommendedpeppersprayandstabproofvestsforallGardamembers.
Me
mbers of the Garda ERU at seige of a house in Abbeylara, Co
Longford where John Carthy was shot. Photograph: David
Sleator/The Irish Times
ItalsosaidanumberofRegionalSupportUnitsminiERUsbasedaroundthecountryshouldbe
establishedtofasterrespondtospontaneousarmedincidentsratherthanunarmedgardawaitingforthe
ERUtoarrivefromDublin.Therecommendationswereacteduponwiththelastarmedunitrolledout
lastyear.
Smithwick Tribunal
TheSmithwickTribunalwassetupbythegovernmentin2005inresponsetoallegationsofcollusion
betweenmembersoftheGardabasedinDundalkandtheProvisionalIRAinthe1989killingoftwo
RUCofficers.Itranfrom2006to2013.
ChiefSuptHarryBreenandSuptBobBuchananwereshotdeadbytheProvisionalIRAshortlyafter
leavingameetingatDundalkGardastationinMarch1989atanambushpointinsouthArmagh.
JudgeSmithwicksaidhewassatisfiedtherewascollusioninthemurdersandthattheevidence
pointstothefactthattherewassomeonewithintheGardastationassistingtheIRA.Butitdidnot
specifywhatformthecollusiontookorwhowasinvolved.
The bullet-riddled car belonging to RUC officers Harry Breen and Bob
Buchannon. Photograph: Pacemaker
Thereportwasalsocriticalofwhathedeemedacollegiatesenseofloyaltyamonggarda,sayingtwo
earlierGardainvestigationsintothekillingswereinadequate.
Healsofoundtheforceinthecurrenterawasonethatvaluedloyaltytoacolleagueabovetellingthe
truth.
ItsaiditsinvestigationhadbeenblockedforyearsbyadeliberatelackofcooperationfromGarda
headquarters.
ThethenGardaCommissioner,MartinCallinan,vehementlyrejectedthecharges.Ministerforjustice
atthetimeAlanShatterwasforcedtointervenetoendapublicwarofwordsbetweenMrCallinanand
Gsoc,sayingitunderminedpublicconfidenceinboth.
MacLochlainn Commission
RonanMacLochlainn(28)fromBallymun,northDublin,wasshotdeadduringanarmedrobberybya
RealIRAgangonaSecuricorvanatCullenmoreBendsnearAshford,CoWicklow,onMay1st,1998.
ACommissionofInvestigation,underMaryRoseGeartySC,wasestablishedbytheGovernmentin
July,2014,afterthedeadmanspartnerGrinneNicGibtookhercasetotheEuropeanCourtof
HumanRights,whichruledMacLochlainnsshootingdeadwasneverproperlyinvestigated.
Thegangwasundersurveillanceatthetimeandwhenittriedtoambushthevaninbusytrafficjust
after5pmontheFridayofthebankholidayweekend,membersoftheNSUandemergencyresponse
unitmovedin.
MacLochlainnhadhijackedaMazdacaratgunpointfromacouplewhowerepassing.Ashetriedto
driveoffwhilepointingagunatgarda,hewasfatallyshot.
Theothergangmemberswerearrestedatthesceneandweresubsequentlyconvictedandjailedfor
theirrolesintheincident.
However,anycommentbythecommissiononhowcooperativeandforthcomingtheGardaforce
provedduringtheprocesswillbecloselywatched.
ItwasrequestedbyformerministerforjusticeAlanShatterfollowingallegationsbywhistleblowerSgt
MauriceMcCabe,amongothers,thattherehadbeenwidespreadquashingofpenaltypoints.
AreportbySeanGuerinSCwascarriedoutonfootofotherallegationsbySgtMcCabethattheGarda
mishandledcasesofmurder,assaultandabductionintheCavanMonaghandivisionwhereheworked.
Sgt Maurice Mc Cabe arriving for a Public Account Committee
meeting in Leinster House.Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
ItalsoexaminedhowclaimsbywhistleblowerswerehandledbytheDepartmentofJustice.Itsfindings
ledtotheresignationofMrShatterfromCabinetin2014.
In2017,however,theCourtofAppealfoundthatthereporthadmadeseriouslydamaging
conclusionsinamannerthatbreachedMrShattersconstitutionalrights.MrShatterhassaidhewas
forcedtoresignbyTaoiseachEndaKenny.
TheallegationsfirstaroseinTheSundayTimeswhichsecuredpartofaninternalreportpreparedfor
GsocbyaUKbasedsecuritycontractorVerrimus.
InhisreportpublishedbytheGovernmentinJune,2014,JudgeCookefoundtherewasnoevidenceto
suggesttheofficesofGsocwerebugged,letalonethatgardawereinvolved.
However,hesaidthereactionofalandlineintheGsocofficesinringingwhentestedforbuggingin
theearlyhoursofthemorningwasunexplained.
HealsonotedthatpersonnelfromUKsecuritycompanyVerrimuswhichcarriedoutthesecurity
sweepforGsocwereadamantwheninterviewedbyhimthattheanomaliestheyfoundsuggested
bugging.
The office of the Garda Ombudsman Commission on Abbey Street
Upper, Dublin 1. Photograph: Collins
WhenitemergedinFebruary,2014,thatVerrimushadbeenaskedtoconductthereviewandhadkept
thefindingsfromtheGovernmentandtheGardaitcreatedsignificantcontroversyinthatitsuggesteda
breakdownintrustbetweenthebodies.
AndwhenGsocreleasedareportsayingtherewasnoevidencetheGardawassuspectedofthealleged
buggingthethenGardacommissionerMartinCallinanwasirate,sayingthatstatementeffectively
appointedtheGardaaschiefsuspect.
PublicstatementswereexchangedbetweenGardaandGsoc,sinkinganalreadyturbulentrelationship
toanewlow.
ThereportoftheOHigginsCommissionofInvestigationintotheCavanMonaghanregionofAn
GardaSochnawaspublishedlastyear.ItwasestablishedonfootofthefindingsoftheGuerinreport.
TheOHigginsreportfoundMrShatter,MrCallinanandtheDepartmentofJusticehandledcomplaints
madebySgtMcCabeinaprofessionalandappropriatemanneratalltimes.Itidentifiedseriousflaws
andfailuresincriminalinvestigationsintheCavanMonaghandivisionin2007and2008,butfoundno
evidenceofGardacriminalityorcorruption.
RetiredjudgeIarflaithONeillcarriedoutareportintoallegationsofasmearcampaignwithinthe
forceagainstSgtMcCabe.JudgeONeillrecommendedacommissionofinvestigationintotheissue,
althoughSgtMcCabeobjectedtothisapproach,asdidvariouspoliticalparties.Theinvestigationwas
upgradedintoafulltribunalofinquiry,whichhasnowbegunitsworkunderthechairmanshipofMr
JusticePeterCharleton.
TheGovernmentalsointendstocarryoutarootandbranchreviewofAnGardaSochnafollowing
concernovertheexaggerationofthenumberofdrinkdrivingbreathtestscarriedout.Itisanexpansion
ofapreviousreviewrequestedbytheIndependentAllianceintothemanagementandcultureofthe
force.Thepreciseapproachoftheinquiryhasyettobeworkedout,butMinistersatthisweeks
CabinetmeetingcitedtheexampleofthereviewofpolicinginNorthernIrelandfollowingthe1998
BelfastAgreement.
TheyhadbeenrecordedontheGardasPulsecomputerdatabasebuthadneveractuallyhappened.
OnthesamedaytheGardaalsorevealedmajorproblemswiththefixedchargenoticesystemrelatedto
roadtrafficenforcementandpenaltypoints.
Itsaid1470,000hadbeenwronglysummonedtothecourttoanswercharges.Somehadbeen
summoneddespitehavingbeensentanFCNinthepostandpaidthefine.AndinothercasesnoFCN
waseversentandthecasewentdirectlytoasummons.
TheGardasaidjustover14,600ofthepeoplesummonedtocourtwereconvictedandsanctionswere
imposed.Anditmustnowcontactthosepeopleandhavetheirconvictionssetasideinthecourts.
TheGardamustalsorepaythefinesofthosemotoristsinvolvedandothercostsarisingfromallofthe
cases.
GardaCommissionerNirnOSullivanremainsunderextremepressureaboutthebreathtestingdata
inparticular.
MsOSullivanisunderpressurebecause,assuggestedbyFiannaFail,itappearsseniorGarda
managementdidnotmakefulsomeeffortstogettheaccuratebreathtestdatauntilafterastory
revealingtherewasaproblemwaspublishedinthisnewspaperonFebruary20th.
ThereisdissatisfactioninpoliticalcirclesofMsOSullivanshandlingoftheissueanddoubtsthatthe
Gardawouldhaveeverrevealedthenatureandextentofthebreathtestproblemsiftheissuehadnt
beenexposedinthemedia.
FiannaFailiscurrentlyconsideringamotionintheDilthatwouldexpressnoconfidenceinsenior
Gardamanagement.