The Garda Síochána is facing around 750 civil actions against members of the force relating to assault, unlawful arrest and other breaches of citizen's rights, new figures show.
Latest figures for this year show 120 actions have been initiated or received, including 37 cases of alleged assault and 25 cases of alleged unlawful arrest.
The cases have cost the State almost €700,000 so far this year in settlements and awards. Around €1.3 million was paid out last year.
The majority of the settled cases cost the State around €25,500, according to the Department of Justice. Settlement of cases takes place on the advice of the Chief State Solicitor, the Attorney General and State legal counsel.
The scale of the number of civil actions comes at a time when the Department of Justice is planning to establish a new mechanism for dealing with complaints against members of the Garda.
This includes a Garda Inspectorate which will review and report to the Minister on practices, standards and performances within the force.
The Minister says the overhaul will address shortcomings in the existing law and procedures on Garda complaints, however, civil liberties campaigners say the changes do not go far enough.
Figures for 2004 are similar to last year, when 142 actions were initiated or received by the Department.
Of those, 34 cases related to alleged assault, 38 cases involved alleged unlawful arrest.
The remaining 70 cases recorded included allegations of defamation and harassment.
The Garda Commissioner says it has identified and implemented changed "operational strategies" to eliminate or reduce similar claims against the force in the future on foot of some civil actions.
Under the existing complaints regime, the Garda Commissioner says discipline regulations are invoked in "appropriate" cases where the actions of individual Garda members come into question.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/d44f2db9-df8f-4862-a014-cc272b77d22c.png)