Whitewash

Monday May 20, 2002 20:45

by 8den

As the media attention over May 6th dies down, the matter gets turned over to Gardaí investiagtions and soliciters. However recent discoverys leads us to suspect the tactics and behaviour of the internal investigation.

Members of this Gardaí Internal inquiry have been doing the rounds. Asking for statements from people including those who went to the Gardaí complaints board. However their behaviour can only be described as suspicious.

For starts, they've not been making it clear that they are part of the Internal Inquiry and NOT members of the Gardaí complaints board. They've not been out right lying, but neither have they come forward straight out with the truth. They've approached people taken their statements and left them with the impression that the witness has just made a complaint, when in fact they've given the Gardaí a statement.

Whats the difference? Internal Inquiry or Gardaí complaints board?

Well for starts there is no confidentality at all with this internal inquiry. Your statement can be used againist you or others, and can be used by other Gardaí.

Secondly, well we don't know secondly. No one has any idea what the remit of this investigation is, or what exactly they are investigating. However as seen in a previous post, someone who made a complaint is recieving Gardaí haressment. Furthermore the Gardaí when speaking to a soliciter about this wasn't too keen on going into details.

This is damage limitation pure and simple. No investigation, rather a desperate attempt to gather evidence to justify what happened.

If you've made a complaint and are approached by Gardaí.

1. Ask them who they are with, Gardaí complaints
board or internal investigation.

If it's the internal investigation I'd advise you to not comply until they give a better explaination of what it is they are investigating.

If it's the complaints board I'll leave you with this cheery fact.

Number of complaints againist Gardaí in 2001
5000 odd.

Number of complaints resulting in charges of assault being made againist Gardaí
2

Number of these charges that were dismissed
2

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Comments (4 of 4)

Why Gardai

by A source

Tue Jun 11, 2002 18:15

For the info of everone, from my understanding when the Garda Complaints Board investigate complaints no Gardai take statements, my understanding is that witnesses make statements directly to the Board. Something to remember?

Garda Greg Sheehan

by #

Mon May 20, 2002 23:48

it has been claimed that some ppl who have made complaints have been under surveilance.some have been in contact with a garda called greg sheehan.it looks like surveillance is his speciality.follow the link

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/1999/0727/courts7.htm

cctv

by paul cummins

Mon May 20, 2002 23:23

chewy at redbrick dot dcu dot ie

whats the story with the cctv and is there anything to do to help
i was there (man)

Don't give up all hope

by hairyactivist

Mon May 20, 2002 22:41

While I accept that the chances of getting a satisfactory response from the Garda complaints board is extremely low I would urge people not to give up hope - and those who have not yet made complaints to do so.

For one thing we have access to hard evidence of garda abuses which usually is absent with complaints. The video footage is excellent evidence.

Secondly there is pressure on the garda complaints board to be seen to act on the events of May 6th. Most of the complaints it recieves during the year go entirely unnoticed by the media, politicians, establishment etc. However this time there is a general establishment expectation that something must be seen to be done.

Now don't get me wrong - don't expect every complaint to end in justice, and I would urge people to proceed with caution.

But if ever there was a chance for the garda complaints board to work in any small way - it is now.

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Comments (4 of 4)