KERRY- MORE THAN 20 GARDAI FACE INQUIREY INTO ALLEGED LIQUOR LAW ABUSES

GARDA WHISTLEBLOWER OSTRACISED - NUMBER OF 

MEMBERS SUSPENDED JUMPS THREE-FOLD IN THREE-YEARS

 The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is set to notify more than 20 members of the force that they are under investigation as part of a major inquiry into alleged systematic flouting of the liquor licensing laws. The allegations have been made by a member of the Garda who has made a protected disclosure setting out his claims dating from 2012. The Garda member, who is currently on sick leave from the force, has also posted blogs about what he claims happened in Co Kerry for many years.

The garda claimed that some premises in Killarney openly served alcohol without licences, sometimes until 6am. He claimed in 2012 some 30 of the town’s 130 premises did not have liquor licences.

He further claimed when alleged licensing breaches were investigated, flaws were deliberately inserted in the investigation files and that some false records were kept. He also alleged Garda vehicles were used to carry- patrons home from some premises and that Gardaí received gifts.

Protected disclosure: 

He has further alleged, because of the failure of the premises to apply for licences or late licences, significant amounts of money that should have been paid to the State for the licences was lost.

“It is important to mention that the- majority of publicans did keep a good house and abided fully with their obligations under licensing laws. There were others however, who it appeared no law applied to,” he wrote.

It emerged in recent months that GSOC was investigating the claims made in the protected disclosure and had informed the complainant of that last June. 

The Irish Times now understands that investigation has progressed to the next stage, and allegations against specific Garda members who were based in the wider Kerry division at the time are now under investigation. GSOC is examining the conduct of 21 Garda members, some of whom are no longer based in the Kerry division, who are now due to be informed formally by the oversight body that they are being investigated.

No allegations of wrongdoing have been proven against any of the members whose conduct is now being investigated.

When contacted by The Irish Times for comment, neither GSOC nor Garda Headquarters would make any comment. The Garda member who has made the protected disclosure worked in Kerry for six years and has claimed when he came forward with his allegations he was ostracised within the force.

https://socialjusticenewscomment.blogspot.com/search/label/crime-construction-firmly-established-by-gardai-innocent-men-convicted-without-evidence 

ADDITIONAL TEXT:

The number of new cases involving Gardaí being suspended from duty has jumped three-fold in the last three years. Official garda statistics show the biggest increase has taken place in the last year, with 31 new files opened. This compared to 21 new cases in 2018, 15 in 2017 and 10 in 2016.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the rise was “regrettable” but said it showed that the organisation was moving to address suspected wrongdoing. There was a total of 42 Gardaí suspended at the close of 2019, compared to 37 the previous year, 28 in 2017 and 17 the year before. Figures provided by Garda HQ show that on 3 February last a total of 51 Gardaí were suspended from duty, 41 of them male and five- female. The statistics are contained in the latest monthly report from the Garda Commissioner to the Policing Authority. The rise in cases was briefly mentioned at last week’s public meeting between the commissioner and the authority, but the actual figures were not provided.

Gardaí can be suspended from duty in a range of circumstances, including where a commissioner was- signalled he intends to dismiss the member under disciplinary regulations or before or after a garda is arrested for a suspected criminal offence. When asked at the Policing Authority last week what the sharp rise in cases said about the organisation, Commissioner Harris replied: “In respect of the organisation it says we wish to address wrongdoing and address wrongdoing appropriately.” He said that suspending a garda was “always a weighty decision to take”.

The garda chief said: “It has an impact and we recognised that, we only use it where we regard it as both necessary and proportionate to what we are dealing with.”  He added: “Regrettably those are the figures. One doesn’t want to see those figures increase, one would rather have no suspensions, but that’s not possible in an organisation of 14,500 garda members - we’ll never be in that situation.” The commissioner said his approach was to try and deal with the suspension and get to an outcome as quickly as possible.

“It is regretted, but it is necessary," he said. "If one looks back to the Cultural Audit people watch how others are dealt with. “People are very clever and can see wrongdoing for themselves and they take an organisational message when it’s not dealt with, so I’m firmly of the view these matters need to be dealt with.” 

The commissioner said that they were setting up a new performance regime and a new misconduct system in the organisation, where the aim was to assist with welfare issues that members might have and provide early intervention. This, he said, was to limit the risk of a “slippery slope” developing where welfare issues like addiction or financial debt, could result in more serious actions, even corruption. He said the new Anti-Corruption Unit he was setting up would deal with the more “egregious” cases and that this included inappropriate sexual relations by Gardaí with vulnerable people and the impact that can have on people’s confidence in policing. He said he had dealt with two such cases, but that he expected more given the experience in other police forces.

·        Drinks industry lobbyists met Government members and officials 361 times in 2018

·        Gsoc conducting inquiry into alleged abuse of liquor laws in Killarney

·        Alcohol licensing rules ‘updated’ for Center Parcs development

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