The Taoiseach has said that the criminal justice system, and the time it takes for cases to progress through the courts, can place significant “pressure” and “trauma” on those involved, including defendants, reports Breaking News.
Micheál Martin was speaking to reporters in Limerick, addressing questions about the circumstances surrounding a Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation probe into gardaí in the Limerick Division, where officers were acquitted in one case, had charges dropped in another, and in two further cases were suspended for six years without being charged, reports Breaking News.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and legal representatives for the gardaí have called for a full public inquiry into why the investigation and prosecutions were pursued.
Mr Martin said he supports an internal Garda review of the matter and noted that while he does not have the “full background to the entire situation”, “the length of time that all of this takes puts enormous pressures on families and people”, reports Breaking News.
He described the slow pace of the justice system reaching conclusions as “a real problem”.
“The criminal justice system and the length of time it takes can exacerbate the trauma on people,” the Taoiseach said, reports Breaking News.
Mr Martin added that the cases involving gardaí suspended for six years and later found to have done no wrongdoing should be examined by “Garda management”.
“Issues like this always get reviewed, and we should be reviewing situations like this with existing mechanisms and institutions,” he added, reports Breaking News.
The Taoiseach signalled that he does not support holding a public inquiry into the issue.
He said: “The Director of Public Prosecutions is independent and politicians cannot interfere in the work of the DPP or its office or indeed in the operational running of An Garda Síochána”, reports Breaking News.
“I understand fully the concerns and the anger of many people in terms of what transpired (in the GNBCI probe and prosecution) but the courts did acquit and the courts dealt with the situation,” he said.
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“We have to be careful about having public inquiries on so many issues. The existing institutions of the State should deal with issues like this, reports Breaking News.
“Public inquiries take an inordinate length of time, cost an enormous amount of money, and often do not give solace to those who sought them in the first instance, so I think we do have to be focussed on making sure that existing institutions can do whatever reviews people deem necessary at any given time.”
Regarding the GNBCI probe, four serving gardaí and a retired superintendent were acquitted of charges related to perverting the course of justice, linked to alleged preferential treatment in road traffic cases, reports Breaking News.
Three additional gardaí were informed this week that, after six years of suspension, the DPP had dropped charges against them and they could return to duty.
Two more gardaí, who had also been suspended for several years without facing charges, were told their suspensions had been lifted and they could resume work, reports Breaking News.
Several civil cases seeking damages have emerged following the investigation’s outcome and the unsuccessful prosecutions.
In total, 130 garda members in the Limerick Division were interviewed as part of the GNBCI investigation into alleged improper handling of traffic offences, reports Breaking News.
The Garda Representative Association said the officers were suspended and prosecuted simply for carrying out their duties, including the lawful use of “Garda discretion”, a long-established aspect of community policing.
The GRA described the investigation and charges as a “witch hunt”, reports Breaking News.
Garda Headquarters has not issued a response to these allegations.
The GRA also criticised the cost of the investigation and the subsequent nine-week trial involving five of the ten gardaí, which is estimated to have run into millions of euro, reports Breaking News.
The Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice have both indicated they do not support calls for a public inquiry, stating that a lawful investigation was carried out and that the justice system has run its course.
Frank Thornton said: “The Garda Commissioner and the Minster can say what they want but this is not going to go away, reports Breaking News.
“We want to know how all this happened, why it happened, who allowed it to happen and who allowed it to continue knowing what it was,” said Thornton, reports Breaking News.
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