Garda Ombudsman receives 3,000 complaints in first year

The Garda Ombudsman Commission says it has received almost 3,000 complaints in its first year of operation.

More than 750 investigations into alleged criminal conduct are ongoing, while nearly 300 cases have been referred to the Ombudsman from the Garda Commissioner.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman has hit out at garda for outbursts of criticism at a gardaí conference this week.

Members of the Garda Representative Association accused the commission of "blundering incompetence" and claimed the organisation had compromised an investigation by handling evidence during a search of a garda station.

Chairman of the Commission, Mr Justice Kevin Haugh, said that while he didn't resent the comments, he felt the way in which they were delivered was unfair.

He said it might have been more productive to discuss the issues with the commission rather than raising them for the first time at a conference or on the airwaves.

The Garda Ombudsman was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and involved significant legislative changes for policing in Ireland.

(DW)