THE Garda Commissioner has instructed gardai in Dublin to operate "as normal" this month when bringing charges against offenders who have failed to answer bail.
The directive followed a bulletin issued to Garda stations which the Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, said was open to minister predation by individual gardai.
The bulletin from the Bridewell Station, at the main District Courts building, said "Judges have requested that, except in exceptional cases during the month of August, Section 13 (1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 charges (warrant sheets) should not be brought before the courts."
The section refers to the offence of failing to answer bail.
A copy of the bulletin was published in the Star newspaper yesterday, with a report suggesting gardai were being told not to arrest fugitive muggers, drug offenders and burglars during August.
A Garda spokesman said a court was always available for a serious matter. The initial bulletin was intended to reflect the normal working pattern during the holiday season.