Gardaí not exempt from prosecutions

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy has said that members of the force who break the law are dealt with no differently than other members of society.

In a statement released yesterday giving details of criminal prosecutions against members of An Garda Síochána, the commissioner said that with 14,000 officers, "though unacceptable, it is not unexpected that some members transgress the law from time to time. Where this occurs and they are detected, prosecutions follow."

Referring to the 31 members against whom criminal charges have been brought since the beginning of 2005, as outlined in yesterday's Irish Times, he said that in each of the cases criminal proceedings had begun and in many, these had now been finalised.

"Criminal cases are dealt with in public court and in many of these prosecutions, media reports followed," he said.

"The suggestion that the Garda Síochána is somehow 'hiding' information is, therefore, not valid." Mr Conroy said that in all 31 cases, in addition to criminal prosecution, the members involved faced disciplinary proceedings.

Between January 1st, 2005, and November 30th, 2006, seven members of the force were prosecuted for drink-driving. Five were convicted, one case was struck out and one case is pending.

Following internal disciplinary proceedings one person was dismissed, fines of €300 and €400 were imposed in two cases and the other four Garda disciplinary investigations are not yet completed.

The other criminal cases were over other motoring offences, theft, assault, harassment, liquor-licensing offences and the possession of cannabis. In nine of these cases convictions were recorded. The Probation Act was applied in four cases.

In five cases the prosecutions were dismissed, one case was withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions and five other cases are pending.

As with the seven drink-driving cases, internal Garda disciplinary proceedings began in all cases.