I wrote this before the Charleton tribunal first sat (and at a tim when I didn’t think I would be covering it). It feels appropriate to report it today. Every time a Morris report was published, experts and commentators suddenly appeared. They were almost entirely uninformed. And an awful lot of commentary will obsess about the tribunal’s costs. My sustained impression after almost a decade of seeing An Garda Síochána… Read Article →
Tag Archives: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
When you’re reporting your source’s point of view, its PR, not journalism
There was a rumour you see. And as far as the Guards were concerned, it was a believable rumour, despite the complete absence of any forensic evidence. So the Guards mobilised, and swooped down on innocent families. Not this week in Tallaght and the Midlands, but 17 years ago, in Donegal. The case led to a tribunal of inquiry, chaired by retired High Court president Mr Justice Frederick Morris, and… Read Article →
Threat Level
Justice minister Dermot Ahern says membership of a criminal gang will become a scheduled offence, to be tried in the Special Criminal Court. In the last chapter of Chaos and Conspiracy, when I considered the lessons to be learned from what happened in Donegal a decade ago, I wrote this: “The Gardaí need effective oversight – for their own sake and for the sake of the people of Ireland. Models… Read Article →
Legacy
Dermot Gallagher, former secretary general at the department of foreign affairs, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Garda Síochána Ombuudsman Commission. Gallagher replaces Justice Kevin Haugh, who died unexpectedly last week. The government does not usually react with such speed when high positions fall vacant, but in this case, it was prepared. The judge had told the cabinet last Autumn that he intended to leave the commission… Read Article →