An Garda Síochána has received media queries today regarding an article published on the front and inside pages of the Sunday Independent which purports to communicate views held by unnamed "senior Gardaí and Department of Justice officials" and makes serious allegations about members of An Garda Síochána based on anonymous sources and without any apparent grounding in fact.
We have no knowledge of any senior Gardaí or officials who hold such views and none of the assertions contained in the article were put to An Garda Síochána for official comment prior to publication.
The scenarios put forward in this morning's article fail to take account of An Garda Síochána's strong record in the fight against the importation of and dealing in illegal drugs, including cocaine. We continue to put operations and investigations in place to combat and disrupt the illegal drug trade as well as the associated organised and violent criminality. The proof of that commitment and work can be seen in the courts and in the prisons every day.
Clearly, we take any allegation of misconduct very seriously and anyone who has evidence of wrongdoing on the part of a member of the Gardaí or of any criminal activity on the part of any individual, should inform Gardaí in order that the matter can be thoroughly investigated.
In light of the gravity and prominence of the allegations published today, the Garda Commissioner has asked the Assistant Commissioner in the Dublin Metropolitan Region to task a Detective Superintendent to speak to the journalists and editor of the Sunday Independent to give them an opportunity to substantiate those allegations. Gardaí can then examine whether there is any information supporting the allegations which merits further investigation.
Finally, it is general Garda policy not to comment on individuals or to provide detailed information on the progress of investigations. However in the context of the sudden death of an individual on the 30th April 2010 Gardaí can confirm that a file was forwarded to the Dublin City Coroner. Further Garda inquiries arising from the contents of the toxicology report which formed part of the evidence at the inquest are ongoing.
Garda Press Office.
