Republican News · Thursday 14 February 2002

Garda Inquiry welcome

The announcement that the inquiry into the actions of Donegal Gardaí headed by Justice Frederick Morris could be underway by the start of the summer is as welcome as it is long overdue.

The truth is that the Donegal Gardaí, despite the protestations of shock and horror coming from the government and media establishment, have hardly been breaking new ground in their methods.

For republicans in particular, claims that Gardaí harassed innocent people, planted drugs and explosives, lied and covered up for each other, are hardly a revelation.

For many Irish people though, the last few years have seen a steady erosion of a previously unquestioning trust in the abilities and honesty of the Gardaí.

The Paul Ward case, harassment of anti-drugs activists, the shootings of John Carty and Ronan MacLochlainn, and the forging of interview notes in the Colm Murphy trial all point to a force that is out of control and, much like their brethren in the Six Counties, a Special Branch that is a law unto itself.

The Gardaí can no longer be trusted to investigate themselves. If the idea of the RUC investigating itself in cases like the murder of Pat Finucance is unacceptable, then claims by the Garda Representative Association (GRA) that the Gardaí can be trusted to police their own behaviour should be treated with similar contempt.

What is needed is a government that can stand up to the GRA and carry out the kind of radical changes that are required. Instead of a Garda Ombudsman and an independent Inspectorate, we have a limited inquiry that will be held, at least in part, out of public view and which may take years to reach a conclusion.

The McBrearty family has already waited five years for the inquiry, suffering the worst kind of abuse at the hands of so-called rogue Gardaí. They have waited long enough for justice.

Republicans have worked for years, both north and south of the border, for an accountable police force that is in touch with the community it is supposed to protect and can be trusted by all.

Sadly, much like the McBrearty family, we will be a long time waiting.