Garda Uniform Call

In the midst of its woes over the taping scandal the Association of Garda Sergeant and Inspectors (AGSI) delegates have managed to divert their time to more mundane matters such as the garda uniform. 

At its annual conference in Kerry the Association unanimously backed a motion calling for the Garda Reserve to be issued with a different uniform so that the public can distinguish them from full time members of the force.

Eddie Golden of Cork north argued: 

To a member of the public attending a major event or socializing in any town or city we feel that the only differentiation at present is the GR on the epaulettes in front of the divisional number and we do not believe that is enough … This, to the public at large, means absolutely nothing. Even to a supervisory member at a large event at a distance, they can’t be easily seen. Garda Reserves are indistinguishable to the majority by virtue of wearing identical uniform to the full time members.

Garda at Green Street Court bomb blast, July 1976.

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Fennelly to Cost €2 million

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has revealed that the Fennelly Commission of Investigation into the recording of telephone calls at Garda stations will cost around €2 million if the works is completed this year.

However, Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins has queried the wisdom of an Investigation in order to discover 'what the Taoiseach knows about the circumstances of the retirement of the former Garda commissioner.'

Garda at the scene of the rescue of John O'Grady, 1987.

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Association of Garda Superintendents Annual Conference

General secretary of the Association of Garda Superintendents, Pat McCabe, has claimed at the body's annual conference in Kildare that there is no evidence of systemic corruption across the Garda, describing recent controversies as  merely “regrettable and unfortunate.”

 Crucially howver he acknowledged that Gardai valued loyalty over truth.

We have loyal members of the force but I would suggest they are loyal to the people of this country. That’s where their loyalties should and do lie.

Garda during rescue of kidnapped dentist, John O'Grady, 1987.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter addressed the conference yesterday evening.


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Buying Some Time

The Irish Independent has claimed that the Coalition has brought itself some time in the 'Garda wars' that it has become embroiled in.

...yesterday, unveiling the terms of reference for the inquiry into these 30 years of garda-station tape recordings, it was hard to fault the wide remit given Mr Justice Nial Fennelly of the Supreme Court.

The inquiry in addition to looking into the taping of phone calls in Garda stations yesterday, will also investigate the monitoring of calls between remand prisoners in the state's jails and their legal representatives. 

Garda during rescue of kidnapped dentist, John O'Grady, 1987.

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