Gardai To Be "Radically Reformed"

Morris Report Finds Police Force Has Serious Disciplinary Problems

The Gardai will undergo radical reform following the publication of the Morris Tribunal which found widespread 'insubordination' and 'indiscipline' in the force.

The findings of the Tribunal, which was established to investigate Garda wrongdoing in Donegal, were released last week, and are among the most damning ever delivered on a state institution since 1921.

The report found that discipline within the Gardai has broken down and needs to be restored as a matter of urgency.

It also recommended the power of granting search warrants should be taken away from senior Gardai and warned that new recruits into the force were in serious danger of being corrupted by the culture within some parts of the force.

The report's author, Mr Justice Frederick Morris, said there was "a small but disproportionately influential core of mischief-making members who will not obey orders, who will not tell the truth and who have no respect for their fellow officers".

Justice Morris added that the tribunal had been "staggered by the amount of indiscipline and insubordination it has found in the Garda force".

The devastating findings prompted Justice Minister Michael McDowell to warn Gardai that any attempts to block reform in the force would be dealt with 'immediately and seriously'.

"No organised campaign of indiscipline or defiance of reforms enacted in the Oireachtas can be countenanced in any circumstances," said Mr McDowell.

"The government is absolutely determined that An Garda Siochana will not become a playground for mischief makers under any circumstances whatsoever.

"There is a simple, stark choice.

"Stand by the declaration and oath you took when you attested to An Garda Siochana and stand by the will of the people in reform of that force or opt out.

"There is no middle ground on that issue."

Mr McDowell announced a new set of guidelines, which will streamline current Garda practices and gives the Garda Commissioner unprecedented widespread summary dismissal powers.

He said that the widespread malpractice uncovered by the Morris Tribunal was of serious concern.

However opposition parties accused the government of not taking the crisis seriously enough.

"This has dragged down the morale of the Gardai even further," said Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny.

"The law breaking by Gardai needs to be addressed and I don't believe this is being done by the justice minister," he added.

Among the findings of the report was that senior Gardai in Donegal had planted guns on people and framed innocent victims for crimes they did not commit.

The report also found that an explosive device had been attached to a television mast by Gardai, with the intention of framing protesters at a later date.

One of the key findings of the reports was that search warrants had been abused by the Gardai to intimidate and harass people.

As a result junior ranking Gardai will no longer have the power to issue warrants.

However the Gardai Representative Association said they did not accept entirely the finding of the Morris Tribunal.

But the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said it would consider any reports before making any comments.

It was also revealed that the total cost to the state in compensation for victims of Garda abuse currently stands at 2.2M Euro for five cases.

A further 98 cases are due to go to court, with total compensation costs expected to exceed 100M Euro.