Ombudsman Commission has appeared before Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has described as ‘troubling’ the fact that the Garda Síochána continues to conduct criminal investigations of its own members without the knowledge or participation of GSOC.

The practice ‘flies in the face’ of the recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) that all complaints against the Garda Síochána should be routed through the Ombudsman organisation to determine what action needs to be taken.

It also runs the risk of allegations of ‘cover up or bias or corruption’ when it becomes known that such investigations have been carried out internally, GSOC Chairperson Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality today (8 May 2019).

Ms Justice Ring appeared before the Committee alongside fellow commissioners, Mr Kieran FitzGerald and Mr Patrick Sullivan.

(The full text of the GSOC submission to the Committee and the Chairperson’s opening remarks attached below)