The Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has received the report that he sought on Monday, 4 April 2011 to establish the facts surrounding audio footage of comments alleged to have been made by members of An Garda Síochána subsequent to the arrest of two female protestors at Aughoose, Co. Mayo on Thursday 31st March 2011.
The Commissioner has now forwarded details of the report’s findings to both the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
Speaking this evening the Garda Commissioner said:
"On receipt of allegations about remarks made by members of An Garda Síochána I immediately appointed a Superintendent to establish the facts of the matter. I have now received details of his report.
As Garda Commissioner I am deeply disappointed by its contents which indicate that this conversation did take place between members of An Garda Síochána and that the words reported were used.
I am sorry for the offence caused to the community we serve and for the hurt and pain felt, in particular, by victims of sexual crime. As I stated earlier this week An Garda Síochána aspires to the highest standards of professionalism in our investigative and operational work but this must be combined with respect, sensitivity and compassion in our dealings with the community. Our policies, our training and our actions must always reflect these principles.
I believe that this incident does not reflect the views or sentiments of the vast majority of gardaí who are out in the community every day working to protect and secure people’s safety. I am conscious however that people’s trust and confidence in our integrity must always be earned and maintained and as Garda Commissioner my promise is to ensure that we will continually work to protect these vital and important aspects of our relationship with the community."
Without prejudice to the investigation underway by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, the members identified as having been involved in this incident have been deployed to administrative duties. Four of the five have been transferred.
Sinead McSweeney Director of Communications
Garda Press Office.
