Garda to publish report into 'solved' crimes

The Garda will publish a report into suggestions gardaí in Waterford reported 14 robberies as "solved" even though no one was convicted for the crimes, the Minister for Defence told the Dáil today.

Documents written that reportedly suggest crimes were marked as solved even though no one was charged for them were passed over to the Garda yesterday by the Starnewspaper.

Mr Michael Smith today said the report into these documents would be made available as soon as it is completed. Asst Commissioner responsible for Crime and Security Mr Pat O’Toole is leading the investigation at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Supt John Farrelly said on RTÉ radio this afternoon the documents "have been proved to be genuine".

He explained there are cases where crimes could be described as solved even though no one has been charged. He used the example of crimes carried out by those too young to appear in court or those committed by a person who dies before prosecution.

Supt Farrelly said the documents had no bearing on the recently released Garda Report for 2000 as they related to events in January last year.

According to the documents, investigating gardaí received confidential information that indicated two men were responsible for a series of robberies in Waterford. The documents apparently go on to suggest that because of a lack of evidence for a conviction, the two gardai suggested these be recorded as "solved".

A second document, allegedly a response from the superintendent, agreed with the suggestion that the each incident be updated, recording the "culprits" as "offenders" instead of "suspects".

This morning Fine Gael said the record of the Minister for Justice in fighting crime will be undermined the allegations are proven.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Mr Alan Shatter said: "As a consequence of today’s revelations, the manner in which crime statistics (both crimes reported and crimes detected) are recorded throughout the country must now be examined to ascertain whether practices such as these reported in today’s Star newspaper are resulting in bogus records totally distorting and understating the true level of crime".