Guerin report highlights immediate need for transparency, decisiveness and reform – Murphy

Fine Gael TD for Cork North, Dara Murphy, has today (Friday) expressed his support for Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD in her determination to see major organisational and cultural change in policing in this country.

“The Guerin report released today is extensive, it is over 300 pages and there is a lot of detailed information contained therein. Throughout the afternoon I have been examining the findings of SC Guerin and what I have found so far is that his conclusions are grave indeed.

“What is clear now is that action is needed. As soon as these matters were brought to the attention of the Taoiseach he acted immediately in commissioning this independent report. Similar decisive action is now required from the Minister for Justice and Equality in addressing the major failings that have been found in the performance of the An Garda Síochána and indeed in the Department of Justice and Equality.

“Already plans have been put in place to implement measures that will prevent such failings happening again. A Commission of Investigation will be established arising from this report. This Commission will provide a forum where the complaints made by Sgt. McCabe can be fully addressed. A new independent Garda authority will be established to exercise effective oversight of the Garda Síochána. The Protected Disclosures Bill is being amended to enable the Garda Ombudsman Commission to receive reports from Garda whistleblowers and to independently investigate them. In addition, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality is currently examining the adequacy of GSOC’s legislative framework, and their recommendations will be given due examination when they are available.

“I know the new Minister for Justice has today expressed her determination to introduce these comprehensive measures and reforms and to ensure confidence in An Garda Síochána. We must support the men and women who play such a vital role in keeping our communities safe.

 “ As the Taoiseach stated yesterday, restoring public confidence and the integrity of the Irish justice system now becomes the number one priority for the new Minister. We are now taking the first, vital steps to designing a new system of best practice, of the highest-possible standards, of probity and accountability.

”This has without doubt been a difficult time for An Garda Síochána and for the Department of Justice. Errors have been made and now it is time to work to ensure that we have a fair and functional system in place where genuine allegations of wrongdoing are treated in a completely different way.“