2018 annual report...introduction the year began with the garda síochána ombudsman commission...

GARDA SÍOCHÁNA OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION

2018 ANNUAL REPORT

Mr Charlie Flanagan TDMinister for Justice and Equality 51 St. Stephen’s GreenDublin 2

31 March 2019

Dear Minister,

It is with pleasure that we submit to you the thirteenth Annual Report of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission which covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2018. This Report is submitted in accordance with section 80 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

Yours sincerely,

Justice Mary Ellen Ring, Chairperson

Kieran FitzGerald, Commissioner

Patrick Sullivan,Commissioner

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Coimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána, 150 Sráid na Mainistreach Uachtarach, Baile Átha Cliath 1, DO1 FT73Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, 150 Upper Abbey St, Dublin 1, DO1 FT73

(01) 871 6727 1890 600 800 (01) 814 7023 [email protected] www.gardaombudsman.ie

2 | Glossary of Abbreviations and Terms

Admissibility All complaints are assessed against the criteria listed in section 87 of the Act to decide whether they can legally be admitted for investigation or not.

Advice This is a sanction, which may be applied by the Garda Commissioner, for breach of the Discipline Regulations – it can be formal or informal.

Allegation Each complaint is broken down into one or more allegations, which are individual behaviours being complained about. For example is a person said that a garda pushed them and used bad language, this is one complaint with two separate allegations.

AIO Assistant Investigations Officer

Article 2 Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) states that everyone’s right to life will be protected by law.

Complaint An expression of dissatisfaction made to GSOC by a member of the public, about the conduct of an individual member of the Garda Síochána. A complaint may contain one or more allegations against one or more gardaí. Each allegation against each garda is assessed individually for admissibility.

Custody Regulations

Criminal Justice Act, 1984 (Treatment of persons in Custody in Garda Síochána Stations) Regulations, 1987 – regulations related to the detention of people in garda stations. It can be seen at http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1987/si/119/made/en/print.

Discipline Regulations

The Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, as amended. These can be seen at: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2007/si/214/made/en/print.

Disciplinary Action

Sanction which may be applied by the Garda Commissioner following an investigation. There are two levels of action provided for by the Discipline Regulations, relating to less serious breaches and serious breaches of discipline respectively.

DOp Director of Operations

DDOp Deputy Director of Operations

DLP Designated Liaison Person under the "Children First – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children" guidelines.

DO Designated Officer

DMR Dublin Metropolitan Region

DPP Director of Public Prosecutions

ECHR European Convention on Human Rights

GSIO Garda Síochána Investigating Officer

GSOC Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

IO Investigations Officer

GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMS

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1987/si/119/made/en/print

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2007/si/214/made/en/print

3Glossary of Abbreviations and Terms |

Informal Resolution

This is a process offered in the case of less serious allegations, for example rudeness. It involves a GSOC case officer speaking to both parties with the aim of each getting a better understanding of the other point of view and coming to the agreement that the matter is resolved. It is provided for by section 90 of the Act.

Investigation If a complaint cannot be resolved informally, it must be investigated. Any complaint containing an allegation of a criminal offence is investigated by a GSOC investigator, in line with section 98 of the Act. A complaint containing an allegation of a disciplinary nature is usually investigated by a GSIO (see above), under the Discipline Regulations, in line with section 94 of the Act. If the Ombudsman Commission deems it appropriate, these investigations may be supervised by a GSOC investigator. GSOC may also investigate non-criminal matters, in line with section 95 of the Act.

IRM The Independent Review Mechanism was established by the Minister for Justice and Equality, in consultation with the Attorney General, in May 2014. Its function was to consider allegations of Garda misconduct or inadequacies in the investigation of such allegations, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case.

IO Investigations Officer

Median When numbers are listed in value order, the median value is the number at the midpoint of the list, such that there is an equal probability of falling above or below it.

Member in charge

The member of the Garda Síochána who is designated as being responsible for overseeing the application of the Custody Regulations, in relation to people in custody in the garda station. This can be a member of any rank. The full legal definition and list of duties of a member in charge can be seen in sections 4 and 5 of the Custody Regulations (see above).

OGP Office of Government Procurement

Ombudsman Commission

The three Commissioners of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Out of time A complaint made more than twelve months after the incident being complained of.

PDA Protected Disclosure Act, 2014

PD/PDU Protected Disclosures/Protected Disclosures Unit.

RTC/RTI Road Traffic Collision/Road Traffic Incident

SIC Specialist Interview Coordinator

SIO Senior Investigations Officer

The Act The Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, is the principal act governing the functioning of GSOC. This can be seen at: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2005/act/20/enacted/en/print.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2005/act/20/enacted/en/print

4 | Contents

GARDA SÍOCHÁNA OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION13TH ANNUAL REPORT

Review of the Year ............................................................................................................................................ 7

Section 1: Complaints and Investigations ............................................................................................. 91.1 Volume of Queries ............................................................................................................................... 101.2 Volume of Complaints and Allegations ............................................................................................... 10 Chart 1: Circumstances of Complaints Received (Total Complaints: 1,921) ............................... 10 Map 1: Allegations by Garda Division (excluding Dublin Metropolitan Region) ......................... 11 Map 2: Allegations by Garda Division – Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) ............................. 111.3 What People Complain About ............................................................................................................. 12 Chart 2: Allegation Types in Admissible Complaints (Total Allegations: 2,262) .......................... 121.4 Admissibility ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Chart 3: Complaint Admissibility Decisions (Total Complaints: 1,921) ........................................ 121.5 Inadmissible Complaints ..................................................................................................................... 13 Chart 4: Reasons for Inadmissibility of Allegations in Fully Inadmissible Complaints ................... (Inadmissible Allegations 557) 1 ....................................................................................... 131.6 Admissible complaints ........................................................................................................................ 13 Chart 5: Investigations Opened by Type (Total Complaints Admitted for Investigation: 1270) .... 131.6.1 Criminal Investigations ....................................................................................................................... 141.6.2 Disciplinary Investigations .................................................................................................................. 141.6.3 Outcomes of Investigations ................................................................................................................. 22 Table 1: Outcomes of complaints closed in 2018 .......................................................................... 23 Table 2: Sanctions applied by the Garda Commissioner in 2017, following disciplinary ............... investigations .................................................................................................................... 261.6.4 Time Taken to Close Cases ................................................................................................................. 26 Chart 6: Time taken to close investigations (in days) .................................................................... 27

Section 2: Independent Investigations Following Death or Serious Harm .......................................... 282.1 Referrals from the Garda Síochána under section 102(1) ................................................................ 28 Chart 7: Circumstances in Referrals ............................................................................................. 28 Chart 8: Investigation Types in Referrals (Total Referrals Received: 38) .................................... 28 Map 3: Referrals by Garda Division (Excluding Dublin Metropolitan Region) ........................... 30 Map 4: Referrals by Garda Division – Dublin Metropolitan Region ............................................. 30 Table 3: Types of investigation and their outcomes (investigations following referrals, closed in 2018) ................................................................................................................... 31

Section 3: Investigations in the Public Interest ................................................................................... 32

Section 4: Local Intervention Initiative ............................................................................................... 35

Section 5: Legal Activity following Criminal Investigation .................................................................. 39

Section 6: Informing Garda Policy and Policing Practice ..................................................................... 44 Table 5: Recommendations made to the Garda Síochána in 2018 ............................................... 44

5Contents |

Section 7: Protected Disclosures ........................................................................................................ 49

Section 8: GDPR and Data Access ....................................................................................................... 50 Table 6: Information Requests Processed in 2018 ........................................................................ 50

Section 9: Staff .................................................................................................................................... 51 Chart 7: Human Resource Allocation and Organisation Structure ............................................... 52

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 53

Appendix 1: Governance, Finance and Internal Controls .................................................................... 54 Table A: Dates and attendance by Commissioners ...................................................................... 55 Table B: Expenditure by GSOC in 2018 .......................................................................................... 57 Table C: Employee benefits breakdown ......................................................................................... 57

Appendix 2: Profile of People who Complained in 2018........... ........................................................... 60 Chart 8: Gender ............................................................................................................................... 60 Chart 9: Age ..................................................................................................................................... 60 Chart 10: Nationality ......................................................................................................................... 60 Chart 11: Country of birth ................................................................................................................. 60 Chart 12: Ethnicity ............................................................................................................................. 61 Chart 13: Language ........................................................................................................................... 61 Chart 14: Disability ............................................................................................................................ 61 Chart 15: Religion .............................................................................................................................. 61 Chart 16: Housing .............................................................................................................................. 62 Chart 17: Highest Level of Education ............................................................................................... 62 Chart 18: Employment ...................................................................................................................... 62

Appendix 3: Profile of Gardaí complained of in 2018 .......................................................................... 63 Chart 19: Gender of members of the Garda Síochána in allegations admitted in 2018 ................. 63 Chart 20: Rank of members in admitted allegations in 2018 .......................................................... 63

7Review of the Year |

have a new name making it clear that it is independent of the Garda Síochána.

• The new body should investigate incidents rather than individuals, with a focus on whether policing occurred in accordance with accepted standards rather than on whether or not an individual garda breached the Disciplinary Regulations.

• All complaints about the police should be routed through the new complaints body which would determine whether the complaint was a performance management issue—in which case it would be referred to the Garda Síochána to review and resolve—or one which raised serious issues about the standards of policing and police integrity and required independent investigation.

• The new body should investigate all complaints which raised these serious issues, without recourse to garda investigators (most complaints of a non-criminal nature are currently investigated by senior gardaí on behalf of GSOC), and should be adequately resourced to do so.

The establishment of the new body would require an overhaul of the current legislation relating to complaints against police. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, announced an implementation plan for the report in December, with work to be led by the Implementation Group on Policing Reform to be supported by a dedicated Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach.

He said that the Government had endorsed the report and agreed to his proposal to accept all 157 key recommendations.

GSOC looks forward to working with the implementation group.

Notable EventsPatrick Sullivan was appointed a Commissioner of GSOC in July 2018, filling a vacancy created by the departure of former Commissioner Mark Toland in November 2017. Mr Sullivan came to GSOC with 30 years’ experience in law enforcement and oversight in the US, including more than 20 years spent in the US Secret Service where his last assignment was the worldwide supervision of

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

IntroductionThe year began with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) preparing a detailed business case for a 40 per cent increase in staffing, urgently required to meet its current workload and obligations.

The document was submitted in the context of GSOC having expressed concerns about staffing levels in the organisation almost from when it became operational in 2007.

Under-resourcing over the years had adversely affected GSOC’s ability to provide the service and meet the objectives set for it. Commissioners were also concerned about the organisation’s capacity to undertake important work such as public interest investigations without creating unacceptable delays in completing investigations already underway.

On 2 November 2018, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, announced that all 42 posts sought by GSOC had been sanctioned. With five posts for the Protected Disclosures Unit having been approved in 2017, GSOC ended 2018 with its highest ever sanctioned staff level at 138.

The recruitment process was underway at the end of the year.

Another major development in 2018 which will have significant implications for GSOC, was the publication of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

GSOC welcomed the report, published in September, which recognised the importance of independence when dealing with complaints about police conduct and which set out changes which GSOC believes are necessary to improve public confidence in police oversight. Many of the recommendations echoed GSOC’s Proposal for Legislative Change which was submitted to the Department of Justice and Equality in December 2017.

Key recommendations relevant to oversight included:

• GSOC should be superseded by a new independent complaints body and should

8 | Review of the Year

member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person”

• 17 files referred to the DPP, resulting in 4 directions for prosecution, 9 directions for no prosecution and 4 decisions pending. In addition, the DPP directed no prosecution in 2018 in relation to a file that was awaiting a decision at the end of 2017

• 17 public interest investigations (those investigations undertaken in the absence of a complaint or referral by the Garda Commissioner) were opened and 14 were closed

• 24 protected disclosures were made to GSOC by members and/or employees of the Garda Síochána

• 74 sanctions were imposed by the Garda Commissioner on individual gardaí following complaints to and/or investigations by GSOC.

counterfeiting investigations. Immediately prior to joining GSOC, Mr Sullivan was the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG). His staff conducted criminal investigations involving corruption and misconduct by EPA employees, fraud connected with the misappropriation of government funds, threats directed against EPA employees and facilities, and theft of EPA property or funds.He testified numerous times before the US Congress as a subject matter expert in corruption and misconduct investigation.

Drew Harris was appointed Garda Commissioner in June and took up the post in September—within four weeks, he paid his first visit to GSOC and met with GSOC Commissioners.

The third interim report of the Disclosures Tribunal was published in October. In it, Mr Justice Peter Charleton expressed concern about discipline in the Garda Síochána, echoing concerns highlighted by Mr Justice Frederick Morris more than a decade earlier. The system of enforcing garda discipline required reform so that gardaí accused of ill-discipline should be subject of correction by senior officers “without the need to resort to the elaborate structures which constitute what is in effect a private trial using procedures akin to our criminal courts”.

Mr Justice Charleton said garda discipline rules should be supplemented with open-ended obligations and breach of these should invoke a simplified disciplinary code.

Key FiguresThe figures quoted in this report relate to complaints made to GSOC by members of the public and referrals made to GSOC by the Garda Commissioner. They do not include allegations of misconduct by gardaí which may have been reported to the Garda Síochána or were under investigation by the Garda Síochána but were not reported to GSOC.

• 1,921 complaints received by GSOC in 2018• 2,944 allegations contained within those

complaints• 38 referrals from the Garda Síochána of

matters where it appears “the conduct of a

9Section 1: Complaints and Investigations |

SECTION 1: COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS

CALLS

COMPLAINTS

QUERIES

calls to lo-call number, answered by caseworkers.

3,107

!complaints were opened in 2018 – 1.4% fewer than the previous year.

allegations within these complaints (because there can be several allegations in one complaint).

1,921 2,944

? of these initial contacts were opened in our case management system, initially as “queries”.Once sufficient information is received, a query’s status is upgraded to become a formal complaint.

3,036

of calls received were answered within 60 seconds.

97%

people were met face-to-face in our public office.

375

TOP-LINE DATA

10 | Section 1: Complaints and Investigations

Chart 1: Circumstances of Complaints Received (Total Complaints: 1,921)

Other (19%)

Civil Matter (2%)

Disclosure of Information (2%)

Public Order Policing (3%)

During Police Custody (3%)

Property Issue (3%)

Court Proceedings (4%)

Domestic Incident (4%)

Search (Person or Property) (7%)

Customer Service (13%)

Arrest (12%)

Road Policing (13%)

Investigation (15%)

15%

13%

12%

13%7%

4%

4%

3%

3%

3%

2%2%

19%

The three most common circumstances which gave rise to complaints in 2018 were: the conduct of investigations by gardaí, road policing incidents and customer service by gardaí.

The maps on the next page show the geographical distribution of allegations in complaints made against gardaí in 2018. They show all allegations, prior to GSOC determining which could be admitted and dealt with and which could not. Excluded are 145 allegations for which garda divisions had not yet being established by 31 December 2018

The greatest number of allegations in the country were recorded against gardaí in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), as could be expected given the population and police activity in the capital.

Find out about the profiles of people who made complaints, and of gardaí about whom admissible complaints were made, in the Appendices.

continued on page 12 »

COMPLAINTS Sections 83 to 101 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended (“the Act”), set out rules and processes defining how GSOC must deal with complaints.

1.1 VOLUME OF QUERIESIn 2018 caseworkers answered 3,107 phone calls to GSOC’s lo-call 1890 600 800 number, 97% of which were answered within 60 seconds. This number represents a substantial increase on the 2,517 calls received in 2017.

Caseworkers also met 375 people in our public office.

Overall, caseworkers dealt with 3,036 queries via post, email, fax and correspondence from garda stations and members of the public. Initially each contact is opened on our system as a ‘query’, until we have sufficient information to upgrade it to a complaint and assess it for admissibility.

1.2 VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS AND ALLEGATIONSA total of 1,921 complaints were opened in 2018, a slight decrease (1.4pc) on the 2017 figure. These complaints contained 2,944 allegations—each complaint can contain several allegations.

The decrease in the number of allegations (down significantly on the 2017 figure of 4,459) reflects a change in the way that GSOC has recorded inadmissible complaints since late 2017.

Under the previous process, even complaints which were inadmissible and were not going to be investigated were examined to see if they contained more than one allegation; that number was recorded.

Under the current process, only complaints which have been admitted (and are therefore going to be investigated) are examined for the number of allegations they contain.


DMR North192

DMR West199

DMR East68

DMR North Central173

DMR South131

Garda HQ, Phoenix Park

41

DMR Tra�c8

Dublin Castle–

Harcourt Square20

D

Garda NationalImmigration Bureau

3

DMR South Central181

Roscommon /Longford

64 Westmeath51

Meath114

Louth94

Clare72

Kerry86

Cork West62 Cork City

140

Cork North56

Limerick184

Tipperary85

Waterford75

Wexford81

Kilkenny / Carlow

67

Wicklow45

Kildare80Laois / O�aly

81

Galway114

Mayo65

Sligo / Leitrim32

Donegal74

Cavan / Monaghan

61

0-50 51-100 101-150 151-200 201-250 251-300 301-350

Map 1: Allegations by Garda Division (excluding Dublin Metropolitan Region)

Map 2: Allegations by Garda Division – Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR)


» The highest numbers came from DMR North and DMR West. This differed from last year which saw the highest in DMR South Central and DMR West in 2017 and 2016.

Outside the DMR, Limerick and Cork City respectively were the Divisions with the highest number of allegations made against gardaí in 2018.

NOTE: The total number of recorded allegations arising from complaints (both admissible and inadmissible) was down in 2018 because of a change in a GSOC process. See section 1.2 for explanation.

1.3 WHAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUTThe matters about which people complain to GSOC tend to stay roughly the same year to year.

Chart 2: Allegation Types in admissible complaints (Total Allegations: 2,262)

17%

32%

11%

22%

1%1%

9%

7%

Awaiting decision 7%

Other 9%

Improper use of Information 1%

Falsehood or Prevarication 1%

Non-fatal Offence 22%

Discourtesy 11%

Neglect of Duty 32%

Abuse of Authority 17%

Chart 2 shows that the most common matters about which people complain are:

• Abuse of Authority – excessive use of force, or an instruction to do something which the person making the complaint believes was beyond the garda’s authority to instruct, are the main types of allegation categorised as ‘abuse of authority’.

• Neglect of Duty – allegations that a garda failed to take an action that could have been reasonably expected – such as returning

a phone call at one end of the scale, or properly investigating an alleged serious crime at the other end of the scale - would be typical examples of ‘neglect of duty’.

• Discourtesy – complaints around how a garda spoke to or behaved towards a person.

• Non-Fatal Offences – these are allegations of a criminal offence listed in the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 and include, for example assault, harassment or false imprisonment.

1.4 ADMISSIBILITYAll complaints received by GSOC are assessed against criteria listed in the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to determine if they are admissible. If they meet those criteria, they can be dealt with by GSOC; if they don’t, they are deemed inadmissible.

Chart 3: Complaint Admissibility Decisions (Total Complaints: 1,921)

66%

29%

4% 1%

Withdrawn Prior to Decision (1%)

Pending at Year End (4%)

Inadmissible (29%)

Admissible/Part Admissible (66%)

How do we Decide if a Complaint is ‘Admitted’ for Investigation?According to section 87 of the 2005 Act, we can admit a complaint if it:

• is made by (or, in certain circumstances, on behalf of) a person who is directly affected by, or who witnesses, the conduct subject of complaint; and

• is about behaviour which would, if proven, constitute a criminal offence or a breach of


Garda discipline by a member of the Garda Síochána; and

• is made within the time limit of within one year of the incident subject of the complaint; and

• is not frivolous or vexatious; and• does not relate to the general direction and

control of the Garda Síochána by the Garda Commissioner; and

• does not relate to the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána while the member was off-duty, unless the conduct alleged would, if proven, be likely to bring discredit on the Garda Síochána.

1.5 INADMISSIBLE ALLEGATIONSIn 2018, 551 of the complaints received were deemed to be inadmissible, as none of the allegations in them (577 in total) fulfilled the admissibility criteria laid out in the Act. The chart below shows the reasons.

Chart 4: Reasons for Inadmissibility of Allegations in Inadmissible Complaints (Inadmissible Allegations 577)

73%

14%

7%2% 3% 0% 0%

Inadmissible - not a Garda (<1%)

Inadmissible - Garda not on duty (<1%)

Inadmissible - general control and direction of Garda Síochána (3%)

Inadmissible - frivolous or vexatious (2%)

Inadmissible - not authorised to make a complaint (7%)

Inadmissible - out of time (14%)

Inadmissible - does not constitute misbehaviour (73%)

The most common reason – with 420 allegations – was that, even if proven, the alleged behaviour would not be a crime or a breach of the Discipline Regulations.

The second most common reason not to admit a complaint for investigation was because the allegation(s) contained in the complaint were outside the time limit—12 months after the date of the conduct complained of—specified in section 84 of the Act. In 2018, 78 allegations were determined to be inadmissible for this reason. While GSOC has some discretion to admit complaints outside the specified time period, there is a practical reason for a time limit in the majority of cases; the more time that has elapsed between the incident and the complaint, the more difficult it is to conduct an effective investigation which involves preserving evidence, finding potential witnesses, and securing accurate statements.

1.6 ADMISSIBLE COMPLAINTSIn 2018, 1,270 complaints (containing at least one admissible allegation) were received and admitted for investigation and dealt with in one of five ways. The chart below details the type of investigations opened in 1,268 of these cases. It also reflects two cases where the type of investigation to take place has yet to be decided.

Chart 5: Investigations Opened by Type (Total Complaints Admitted for Investigation: 1270)

47%

33%

11%

0%8%

1% 0%

Admissible cases awaiting investigation type (<1%)

Discontinued prior to initiation of investigation (1%)

Non-criminal inv. by GSOC (s.95) (8%)

Informal resolution (s.90) (<1%)

Disciplinary inv. by Garda Siochána supervised (s.94(5)) (11%)

Criminal investigation (s.98) (33%)

Disciplinary inv. by Garda Siochána unsupervised (s.94(1)) (47%)

Chart 5 shows how each admitted complaint was initially dealt with. This can change during the


lifetime of the case. For example, an unsupervised disciplinary investigation can be escalated to a supervised investigation or to a non-criminal investigation undertaken by GSOC. Once the criminal aspects of a complaint have been investigated, any non-criminal aspects may then be examined and/or investigated.

1.6.1 Criminal investigations Criminal investigation by GSOC are conducted in accordance with section 98 of the Act. All allegations of criminal offences by gardaí (for example assault) are investigated by GSOC’s own investigators. As a result of complaints received in 2018 there were 415 criminal investigations opened.

1.6.2 Disciplinary investigationsThere are four ways allegations of breaches of discipline can be handled:

• Unsupervised disciplinary investigations (under section 94 (1) of the Act) are conducted by Garda superintendents in line with the Garda Discipline Regulations. The Protocols between GSOC and the Garda Síochána say that unsupervised investigations must be completed and a final report issued to GSOC within 16 weeks. An example of the kind of case that is investigated in this way is an allegation that there was abuse of authority in the manner in which an arrest was conducted. There were 598 such cases opened in 2018.

• Supervised disciplinary investigations (under section 94(5) of the Act) are also conducted by Garda superintendents but are supervised by GSOC investigators who meet with the Garda superintendents to agree an investigation plan. The GSOC investigator can direct and partake in the investigative actions, and must receive interim reports. The protocols say that supervised disciplinary investigations must be completed and an investigation report provided within 20 weeks. Supervised investigations are appropriate in more serious allegations of neglect of duty, for example, lack of, or insufficient, investigation of a serious crime reported to

gardaí. There were 135 such cases opened in 2018.

• Non-criminal investigation by GSOC (under section 95 of the Act) – Certain cases which do not appear to involve criminal offences, but which may involve disciplinary and/or systemic matters, may be undertaken by the Garda Ombudsman’s own investigators. Public interest investigations and disciplinary investigations which follow on from criminal investigations would be among this kind of non-criminal investigation undertaken by GSOC investigators. There were 100 such cases opened in 2018.

• Informal resolution is provided for under section 90 of the Act and allows the Ombudsman Commission to try to work with the complainant and the garda (or gardaí) complained of to resolve a situation informally. It is intended to be used only with minor service-level complaints, and is a shorter process than a formal investigation. It is a voluntary process requiring the consent of both parties. While just one informal resolution case was opened in 2018, a number of complaints to GSOC which might previously have been considered suitable for informal resolution were dealt with under a new local intervention initiative, described in detail in section 4 of this report.

Case summary

A garda was found to be in breach of discipline for failing to respond to a request for a statement of facts following a road traffic collision. The collision occurred while the owner of a car was out of the country. The car was badly damaged when an uninsured driver crashed into it.

When the complainant returned to the country, the contact details of a garda who had attended the scene were found on the car. After a number of attempts, the complainant eventually got in touch with the investigating garda.»


» The GSIO found that the investigating garda took a statement from the woman but did nothing further with the statement. The investigating garda maintained that the matter was referred to the detective branch for further investigation but no documentary proof of this referral was found by the GSIO. The records did show that the investigating garda received 15 separate reminders to progress the allegation but none of the reminders were acted upon. In the report sent to the Garda Commissioner, GSOC found that there was sufficient evidence to indicate a breach of discipline may have occurred and recommended that the Garda Commissioner take disciplinary action against the investigating garda.

The investigation found the second garda subject of the complaint was present when the statement was taken from the investigating officer but had no further dealings with the case and was unaware of the lack of progress. Having considered the evidence and circumstances GSOC recommended that no disciplinary action be instituted against this garda.

The investigating garda was found in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations, 2007 on one count of neglect of duty for failure to investigate an allegation of rape and was fined.

Case summary

A garda was fined for being discourteous to a woman who attended a garda station to have a passport form completed concerning her child.

The woman went to the station to have a passport application certified by a member of the Garda Síochána. The passport application was on behalf of her young child. Section 7 of the passport form had already been filled in, but two other sections must be completed in a garda station in the presence of a garda of any rank. »

» The garda informed the complainant that a third party had been identified as the cause of the road traffic collision and the complainant was not at fault. The garda informed the complainant to contact the insurance company who informed the complainant that a statement of facts was required from the garda as the crash was caused by an uninsured driver. The insurance company would not pay out until this statement was received.

It was at this point that the complainant started experiencing difficulties contacting the garda. The complainant made numerous calls and visits to the garda station but to no avail. No call was returned by the garda. During this time the complainant’s insurance policy expired and as a result of the unresolved statement, the premium increased.

The investigation into the complaint was conducted by a garda superintendent on behalf of GSOC. The investigation found that the garda was in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 on one count of neglect of duty—the sanction given was advice.

Case summary

A woman complained to GSOC about a failure to investigate a reported rape. She stated that she made a statement to two gardaí but the report was not investigated nor any contact made following the statement.

The complaint was admitted and designated for a supervised disciplinary investigation and a garda superintendent, supervised by a GSOC designated officer, carried out the investigation. »


» The woman then complained to GSOC. The complaint was found to be admissible and a Garda Síochána Investigations Officer (GSIO) was appointed to investigate. A superintendent investigating on behalf of GSOC interviewed the garda member in question. The member was found to be in breach of disciplinary regulations for discourtesy and received advice under Regulation 10 of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007.

Case summary

A complaint was received after a family home was searched in the early hours of the morning for drugs.

The complainant outlined that the household was awoken to loud banging on the front door early one morning. When the door was opened the complainant was faced with two males in plain clothes asking “where are the drugs?” Two men entered the home and did not declare from the outset that they were garda members—it was only when two uniformed gardaí entered the home did the complainant realise that the first two men were gardaí and that a drug search was under way.

A search was carried out in the main bedroom, the kitchen and the garden. The complainant continued to be questioned by gardaí about the whereabouts of drugs. The complainant continued to state “this must be a mistake”.

The complainant said that gardaí were in the house for about 15 minutes and as they were leaving, one of them said that it must be the wrong house. The complainant was shown a warrant and confirmed that the address was the one stated on the warrant.

The complainant subsequently contacted the garda station for an explanation and later made a complaint to GSOC. »

» The garda at the station refused to fill in the passport application insisting that both parents were required at the garda station. The woman tried to engage with the garda and also requested to speak with the garda’s supervisor. The woman then contacted the other parent who came to the garda station with the small child. The passport application was then completed by a different garda member without further incident.

A complaint was made to GSOC about how the woman was dealt with by the garda member upon first entering the garda station. The complaint was found admissible and a Garda Síochána Investigations Officer (GSIO) was appointed to investigate. The GSIO investigating on behalf of GSOC interviewed the garda members on duty on the night of the complaint including the member who refused to sign the passport application, the member who eventually signed the application and their supervisor who also spoke to the complainant.

At the end of the investigation the GSIO established that the member had in fact been discourteous to the complainant and had been incorrect to insist that both parents must be present upon the signing of section 9 (Certificate of Identity) of a passport application.

The garda was found to be in breach Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 for two instances of discourtesy and was subject to two fines.

Case summary

A woman entered the public office of a garda station to report a road traffic incident to gardaí. She rang the bell for attention and received no response. She then rang the bell again and a short time later a garda came to the public office. The woman felt that the garda’s response to her was both aggressive and rude. She became upset at this treatment and left the station without reporting the road traffic incident. »


• One member was accused of failing to investigate an allegation of assault. The investigation found that a file was prepared but because it was submitted seven months after it occurred it was statute barred (that is, a prosecution could not proceed). The garda member was found to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007.

• A second allegation alleged a garda member failed to investigate criminal damage to the complainant’s property. The investigation found the garda was unsuccessful in locating any CCTV or witnesses, did not prepare an investigation file and made no record of the incident on the PULSE system. The garda member was found to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007.

• A third allegation alleged a garda failed to investigate another incident of criminal damage. The investigation found that the garda advised the complainant to contact a management company to report the damage, did not make a record on PULSE or in an official garda notebook and had no further dealings with the complainant. The garda was found to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007.

• A fourth allegation related to a failure to investigate an allegation of assault and verbal abuse. The garda took a statement from the complainant, but the matter was not recorded on PULSE and the garda failed to prepare an investigation file. The garda member was found to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007. »

» The complaint was deemed admissible and an investigation into the complaint was conducted by a garda superintendent on behalf of GSOC.

Following the investigation, disciplinary proceedings were taken against the garda member who had obtained the search warrant. The warrant had the incorrect address for the target of the search operation. That garda was found to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 on one count of discreditable conduct and was dealt with by way of caution and advice.

Case summary

Five garda members were found in breach of discipline for failure to investigate and record allegations of crime.

A person complained to GSOC that she had reported a number of incidents to a garda station but they had not been properly investigated. These crimes related to harassment, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour spanning over a three year period.

The complaint was admitted by GSOC and a senior garda was appointed to carry out the investigation into the complaint. However, because of a failure to progress the investigation and a failure to update GSOC, the case was subsequently escalated to a supervised investigation. A second garda superintendent was appointed to conduct an investigation supervised by a GSOC investigator. Six garda members were identified as subjects of the complaint.

Allegations against five of the six gardaí were upheld and disciplinary proceedings were instituted by the Garda Commissioner. »


• Allegations against a fifth garda member involved a failure to investigate allegations of assault and verbal abuse on two separate dates. Attempts were made by the garda to identify the alleged offenders in respect of both incidents. A statement was taken from the complainant and CCTV was canvassed for. The garda was unable to identify any witnesses to the allegations of assault. An investigation file was prepared and forwarded for the attention of a Superintendent but due to changes in the district office correspondence register this resulted in a loss of some records. Only one incident of assault was recorded on PULSE. The garda member was found in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007.

• A sixth garda was also the subject of the complaint. The GSOC investigation found this garda member attended an interview with the complainant but had no further dealings with the complainant. The garda was found not to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007.

Sanctions were imposed by the Garda Commissioner on the five garda members found to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 for neglect of duty. The sanction imposed was ‘advice’.

Case summary

A complaint was received on behalf of a deceased man following a road traffic collision. The man died a number of months after the collision. »

» His family made a complaint to GSOC that they were not kept updated about court proceedings relating to the traffic collision, and only found out about the outcome of the proceeding through a local newspaper. It transpired that due to the late issuing of summons, some offences were dismissed. The complainant also alleged that the preparation of the DPP file was unsatisfactory.

The complaint was deemed admissible and an investigation into the complaint was conducted by a garda superintendent and supervised by GSOC. The superintendent found one garda was in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 on two counts of neglect of duty for failing to ensure the summons were received within the statutory time limit to institute proceedings, and for failing to provide updates regarding the investigation of the road traffic incident. The garda was dealt with by way of advice.

Case summary

A complaint was received by GSOC after a woman alleged a garda inappropriately accessed personal information held on PULSE about her.

The complaint was admitted and investigated by a garda superintendent, supervised by a GSOC officer. The investigation found that there was sufficient evidence to indicate that a breach of discipline may have occurred and recommended that the Garda Commissioner take disciplinary proceedings against the garda for accessing the personal information of a member of the public. »


» The garda member stated that to ensure the safety of the injured party, medical attention was first sought to establish where the marks on the person originated. A consultant dermatologist confirmed the marks were related to the vulnerable adult’s disability. The consultant relayed his findings to the family carers and the garda was also subsequently advised. The garda was satisfied with the hospital findings and closed the case. The garda did not contact the carers in relation to the hospital findings.

The investigation into the complaint to GSOC was conducted by a garda superintendent and supervised by GSOC. It found the garda was in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 on one count of neglect of duty for failing to keep the complainants (that is, the people who had brought in the vulnerable adult to the garda station) informed. The sanction imposed by the Garda Commissioner was advice.

Case summary

A garda was charged with assault following a GSOC investigation into a complaint from a man who alleged he was assaulted while in garda custody. The garda was found not guilty.

The complainant had told GSOC that as well as being assaulted, he was also told by the garda that if he (the complainant) made a complaint to GSOC, the garda member would claim that he was ‘attacked and spat at’ by the complainant.

A criminal investigation was initiated by GSOC and, as is the case in all criminal investigations by GSOC, the investigation was conducted by GSOC investigators.

The investigator found that the custody area in the garda station was not covered by CCTV, but accounts were sought from garda members present at the time of the alleged assault. »

» The GSOC report to the Garda Commissioner noted that the garda accessed the personal information of the complainant. The garda did not make notebook entries setting out the reasons for accessing the information and also failed to enter onto PULSE the reasoning behind the check. The garda member retrospectively provided a rationale, but this would not justify a second PULSE check which was carried out 19 days later. A GSOC report identified evidence of two counts of breaches of discipline for neglect of duty and corrupt/improper practice.

GSOC was subsequently informed that the garda was found in breach of Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 for corrupt/improper practice for improperly using the garda’s position as a member of the Garda Síochána for the garda’s own private advantage. The garda was dealt with by way of a warning.

Case summary

Two people complained to GSOC about the way they had been treated by a garda after they’d reported suspected abuse of a vulnerable adult.

The complainants told GSOC that they’d brought the vulnerable adult to a garda station to report their suspicions of physical abuse which they thought may have occurred in a care home. They believed that marks on the person’s body were the result of abuse.

The garda member dealing with the complaint reviewed the marks and consulted with a superior officer and after considering other possible sources of the marks, decided that the injured person should be taken to hospital. The person was admitted to hospital, a care worker was appointed to stay with the person, and the family members who had made the complaint to gardaí were not allowed to see the person.

The complaint received from the family members was in relation to the failings on the garda’s part in not taking their complaint and keeping them informed. »


Case summary

A woman complained to GSOC about how she was treated by a number of gardaí when she reported being sexually assaulted. A supervised investigation—that is, an investigation where a garda superintendent carries out an investigation that is supervised by GSOC—was undertaken.

The woman made a number of allegations about gardaí including that they failed to act appropriately in responding to her report of being sexually assaulted and that they were discourteous to her.

The investigation by the Garda Síochána Investigating Officer (GSIO) included the taking of statements from a number of gardaí who had interacted with the complainant, as well as an audio and video recording of an interview conducted by gardaí with the woman who was reporting that she had been sexually assaulted.

In his final report to GSOC, the GSIO said he had found no evidence that any of the four garda members who had been the subject of the investigation were in breach of discipline.

The GSOC officer supervising the investigation recommended that disciplinary proceedings should be instituted by the garda authorities against one of the four gardaí. The GSOC officer who also reviewed the DVD of the interview said that the garda had repeatedly interrupted the woman, had used inappropriate language and was aggressive towards the complainant.

The garda got up before the end of the interview stating that the garda had to take another statement, then left the room despite the fact that the interview was still ongoing.

The GSOC report recommending that disciplinary proceedings be instituted against that one garda was sent to Garda Síochána Internal Affairs. »

» One garda said that the complainant was seen acting aggressively towards the garda member in charge1. The complainant was observed taking hold of the member in charge’s lapel and forming a fist with his other hand while in the cell. When the complainant failed to desist, a garda struck the complainant with a baton—both garda members then withdrew from the cell. A second incident of a similar nature occurred with the member in charge and the same garda later that day. The complainant was aggressive towards both gardaí and the member in charge again struck the complainant with a baton several times on the legs.

Medical records noted soft tissue damage on the complainant’s wrist and face. The member in charge was asked by the GSOC investigator if the option of exiting the cell instead of using a baton was considered. The member in charge confirmed that this option was not considered.

The complainant also alleged discourtesy in that he was called “whinger”, and abuse of authority in that he was allegedly told “if you make a complaint to GSOC, I will say you assaulted me”.

These allegations were both denied by the member in charge concerned and there was no independent witnesses to support the allegations.

The GSOC investigator recommended that a file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), as the use of force in the circumstances described may constitute an assault, contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. The member in charge had the option of stepping back from the complainant in the second encounter, and leaving the cell without the need to use any force but didn’t take that option.

The DPP directed that the garda be prosecuted—the garda was tried and found not guilty.

1 Member in charge (sometimes abbreviated to MiC) - The member of the Garda Síochána who is designated as being responsible for overseeing the application of the Custody Regulations, in relation to people in custody in the garda station. This can be a member of any rank.


» But several attempts by the injured party’s solicitor to get the driver’s details from gardaí over subsequent months failed. Some months after the incident, the solicitor was told by gardaí that there was no record of the incident.

In the GSOC report following the supervised investigation into the complaint, the GSOC investigations officer said that based on the evidence, the garda may have breached discipline in failing to record on PULSE a road traffic incident reported to him, and in failing to record on PULSE the production of driving documents produced to him.

That report was sent to the Garda Commissioner and GSOC was later notified that the garda had been found to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 and a sanction had been applied by the Garda Commissioner.

Case summary

A man was driving the wrong way down a one way street and was approached by a garda who informed him of this. The driver was upset at the manner in which the garda spoke to him, saying he found the language and tone with which he was addressed insulting and demeaning. He corrected his course on the street and continued on his way.

The man then complained to GSOC. The complaint was found to be admissible and a Garda Síochána Investigations Officer (GSIO) was appointed to investigate. The GSIO investigating on behalf of GSOC interviewed the garda who, when questioned, admitted that he was at fault and should not have spoken to the man in a rude and unprofessional manner. The member was found to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 for discourtesy and received advice.

» Seven months later, the garda authorities notified GSOC that the garda was found NOT in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007. While the garda had been ‘direct’ in the language used, the language did not amount to discourtesy.

The senior garda who dealt with the case said that in his view, the garda (complained of) was not discourteous in terms of a breach of the regulations.

Case summary

A garda was found to be in breach of discipline for neglect of duty arising from a failure to record details of a road traffic incident on the PULSE system.

The failure led to delays in an injured party’s legal representative getting the necessary details for an insurance claim.

The injured party complained to the Garda Síochána about how he was treated by gardaí after reporting the RTI.

Gardaí referred the complaint to GSOC under section 85 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 and GSOC began a supervised investigation—that is, a senior garda was appointed to investigate with a GSOC investigations officer supervising the investigation.

The complaint arose from an incident in which a person was injured. The driver of a car which struck the complainant left the scene and the injured party, who received hospital treatment that day, went to a garda station the next day to report the incident.

The injured party told GSOC that a few days after reporting the incident, he got a phone call from a garda saying they had the name of the driver and gardaí would be checking the matter out with the driver’s insurance company. »


Case summary

A garda was disciplined for neglect of duty over a failure to correctly log a search performed on a man in a public place.

The man in question complained to GSOC – saying he felt that the search had been without basis and had caused him emotional distress from being searched in a public place. The search turned up no results.

A Garda Síochána Investigations Officer (GSIO) was appointed to investigate the matter. The garda who had carried out the search was found to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 for neglect of duty having failed to correctly log the search.

Case summary

A complaint was made on behalf of a child, injured in a road traffic incident (RTI), that a garda failed to properly investigate the RTI. The complainant outlined that the investigating garda had not taken a statement from the child, months after the incident and despite numerous phone calls. When a statement was eventually taken, more than five months later, important details about the incident, such as the identities of witnesses, were not known by the garda and had to be pointed out by the complainant.

Ultimately, the driver involved in the RTI was not prosecuted.

The complaint was found by GSOC to be admissible and a Garda Síochána Investigations Officer (GSIO) was appointed to investigate. The GSIO found the garda member to be in breach of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 on three counts of neglect of duty—one was for failing to investigate the incident, one was for failing to keep the victim updated and one was for failing to respond to correspondence from a garda superintendent about the road traffic incident. »

» The garda accepted responsibility for the breaches, and a monetary penalty was imposed on the garda by the Garda Commissioner.

1.6.3 Outcomes of Investigations1,897 complaints containing 3,949 allegations were closed in 2018.

Of these, 1,352 complaints containing 3,370 allegations were admitted and investigated (the remainder were closed after being deemed inadmissible or after being withdrawn).

While the 1,352 complaints all contained one or more admissible allegations, 132 of the allegations contained in them were inadmissible, so these were not investigated. In total 3,238 allegations were investigated and the outcomes are described in Table 1 on the opposite page.


Table 1: Outcomes of complaints closed in 2018

Outcome/ Reason ExplanationType of investigation concerned

Number of allegations

Discontinued - Further investigation not necessary or reasonably practicable

The most common scenario here is that an investigation is discontinued because there is no independent evidence to prove an allegation.

All types 2,104

No breach of the Discipline Regulations identified

The allegations were investigated and the garda whose conduct was complained of was found to have acted correctly.

Disciplinary investigation by the Garda Síochána (s.94 ) or by GSOC (s.95)

549

Allegation withdrawn The person who made the complaint indicated that they would not pursue it.

All types 232

Non-cooperation by the complainant

The complainant failed to engage with investigation. All types 151

Breach of Discipline Regulations identified and sanction applied

A range of sanctions may be applied depending on the gravity of the breach found (see Table 2).The identification of the specific breach and any sanction to be applied is a matter for the Garda Commissioner under the Discipline Regulations. GSOC has no role in this process.


74

No misbehaviour identified following criminal investigation

The most common scenario here is that there is no independent evidence to prove the allegation(s) made.

Criminal investigation by GSOC (s.98)

99

Garda Discipline Regulations no longer apply

The garda subject of a disciplinary investigation retired or resigned prior to, or during, the investigation.


14

Referred to the DPP - No Prosecution Directed

If there is evidence that an offence may have been committed following criminal investigation, the case is referred to the DPP, who takes a decision whether to prosecute or not. In certain cases, the Ombudsman Commission may refer a case to the DPP to ensure full transparency and public confidence. (See further detail in Section 5)


13

Referred to the DPP – Prosecution Directed

As stated above, the DPP may also make a decision based on the evidence to direct a prosecution and a trial will commence (See further details in Section 5).


2*

TOTAL OUTCOMES 3238

* This figure refers here to the number of files, arising from complaints, which were sent to the DPP and for which the DPP directed prosecution. The trial may not have taken place in 2018.

2 Either supervised or unsupervised investigations.


Discontinued Cases A large number of investigations are discontinued by GSOC every year for a variety of reasons. Cases are sometimes discontinued because a complainant decides not to cooperate or because an initial examination finds the complaint has no merit. Sometimes a considerable amount of work had been done with statements taken and witnesses interviewed, but there is no independent evidence which would prove or disprove the allegation. Cases are discontinued when it becomes apparent that further investigation is not necessary or reasonably practicable.

Among the investigations discontinued in 2018 were:

A taxi driver called gardaí saying he had been assaulted by a passenger who had identified himself as a garda. Gardaí attended the scene and later made statements confirming that they witnessed a confrontation between the taxi driver and a person identified as a member of the Garda Síochána. The garda was said by garda witnesses to have been intoxicated.

The matter was forwarded to GSOC by the Garda Síochána and the taxi driver consented to GSOC conducting an investigation.

GSOC began an investigation under section 98 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 as the allegations outlined in the complaint may have amounted to criminal offences.

Statements were taken from the taxi driver and gardaí who had arrived at the scene. The driver said the passenger had got into his taxi and had asked the driver to turn off the meter. When the driver said it would be illegal for him to turn off the meter, the passenger assaulted him. »

» The taxi driver called 999 and gardaí responded, arriving to find the passenger and the driver out of the car, with the passenger, identified as a garda, in an intoxicated state.

GSOC’s investigation was proceeding when the taxi driver told the GSOC investigator that he did not want to pursue the matter.

His withdrawal brought the GSOC criminal investigation to an end, that is, it was discontinued.

GSOC contacted garda authorities, and at the end of 2018, disciplinary action was being considered by the garda authorities.

Case summary

A person complained to GSOC that a garda had checked a third party’s details on PULSE and had shared details of the third party’s record in a way that had a harmful effect on the complainant.

The complainant said he was in the company of a number of people when the group encountered a garda who took the complainant’s details and the details of one of the other people.

The complainant said the garda had run the other person’s details through PULSE and had told someone who was NOT a garda that that person had a criminal record. The complainant alleged that the person who was given this information by the garda had shared that information with someone else.

The complainant said that as a result of the garda sharing this information with others, the complainant had been cut off from some members of the complainant’s family. »


» The investigator found that the CCTV disclosed no offences. GSOC also concluded that the gardaí had dealt ‘patiently and fairly’ with the complainant, and there was no evidence of discourtesy on the part of the gardaí.

The investigation was discontinued.

Case summary

A person told GSOC that he was conducting an ’educational display’ in a public place when a garda told him there had been complaints about the material he and others were displaying in public. The complainant told GSOC that that garda told him to take down a sign and he refused, saying he and the others had a right to be there.

He said the garda pulled the sign down himself and then ‘pushed a colleague’ of the complainant. The complainant told GSOC that property had been damaged in the process (of the garda’s action) and the complainant believed the garda showed a bias against his views and that of his colleagues.

GSOC began an investigation under section 98 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 (that is, a criminal investigation), as the allegation outlined suggested an offence of assault and an abuse of authority may have been committed.

The person who the complainant alleged had been pushed by the garda made a statement to GSOC and said there were graphic banners. This witness said he wasn’t making a complaint-- he was one of the protesters but just wanted to make a statement on what happened. As he declined to make a complaint, the matter was recommended for discontinuation and the case was closed.

» A criminal investigation was begun by GSOC—it was designated a criminal matter as the allegation outlined could, if proven, be considered an unwarranted and serious infringement of a person’s right to privacy. This may have amounted to an offence of breaching section 62 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended. (Section 62 prohibits gardaí or civilian staff or contractors from disclosing information obtained in the course or carrying out their duties if the person knows the disclosure of that information is likely to have a harmful effect).

Shortly after the investigation began, the complainant withdrew the complaint. The GSOC investigation was then discontinued.

Case summary

A person who was asked to leave a public place complained to GSOC about the manner in which he was removed by gardaí.

Gardaí had been called by hotel staff after a number of guests complained about the behaviour of the man. The man was asked by gardaí to leave and was eventually escorted out of the building.

The man complained to GSOC and the investigation was designated a section 98 investigation (that is, a criminal investigation), because of the alleged use of force by gardaí. The complainant said in his statement that he was ‘manhandled’ out of the hotel—he was also unhappy about the way he was spoken to by gardaí.

GSOC got statements from hotel staff who said that a number of guests had complained about the behaviour of a man in the bar area. GSOC also viewed CCTV footage. »


Reviews of Disciplinary InvestigationsIf a complainant is dissatisfied with the result of an unsupervised investigation undertaken by a garda superintendent, section 94(10) of the Act provides that they can request that a GSOC officer review the matter. In these reviews, GSOC’s role is to establish if the investigation was comprehensive enough and the outcome appropriate.

GSOC does not have the power to substitute the decision or finding with a new decision. GSOC provides a report to the Garda Commissioner, where concerns in relation to how the investigation was conducted and/or its outcome arose. As the disciplinary process has been concluded in these cases, the case cannot be re-opened or the outcome changed. It is hoped that the feedback may contribute to a reduction in similar issues in future investigations.

GSOC received 55 requests for review in 2018 (in relation to investigations completed in 2018 or other years), of which 50 were completed by year end and 5 remained open.

SanctionsShould an investigation by the Garda Síochána under section 94 (either supervised or unsupervised) or by GSOC under section 95 find evidence of a potential breach of the Discipline Regulations by a garda, the Garda Síochána makes a decision on whether or not there has been a breach. A range of sanctions may be applied, depending on the gravity of the breach found. Sanctions are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. The sanctions applied in 2018, following decisions of a breach of discipline, are set out in Table 2.

Table 2: Sanctions applied by the Garda Commissioner in 2017, following disciplinary investigations

Sanction Number

Advice 36

Fine imposed 9

Warning 6

Sanction Number

Caution 10

Reprimand 3

Reduction in pay not exceeding 2 weeks’ pay

8

Reduction in pay not exceeding 4 weeks’ pay

2

TOTAL SANCTIONS 74

In addition to the above outcomes, which were findings in relation to the behaviour of individual gardaí, some investigations highlighted situations where the problem may have arisen due to a systemic or management issue rather than the behaviour of an individual. With a view to reducing or eliminating the incidence of similar complaints in the future, a number of recommendations about policies and/or practices were sent to the Garda Commissioner – please see section 6 for details.

1.6.4 Time Taken to Close CasesIn 2018 GSOC reduced the time it took to close cases in some investigations, but in others, notably criminal investigations and informal resolutions, the length of time increased. Factors including the complexity of cases or resources within GSOC may have contributed to the increased time taken to close investigations. GSOC is committed to improving the time it takes to close/complete investigations. Chart 6 shows the median time it took to close cases by type by the end of 2018.

Criminal InvestigationsAt the end of 2018, the median time taken to close criminal investigations was 147 days, an increase of 32 days on the 2017 figure.

Criminal investigations are subject to a review process, which includes standard control measures. As part of this process, cases which have been open for 60 days are formally reviewed by Senior Investigations Officers and those which have been open for 90 days are formally reviewed by the Deputy Director of Operations. Cases open


Non-Criminal Investigation by GSOCNon-criminal investigations by GSOC may, under section 95 of the Act, be undertaken by the Garda Ombudsman’s own investigators. The median duration of such investigations was 253 days. This is an increase of 50 days on the 2017 figure.

for 120 days are brought to the attention of the Director of Operations for appropriate decisions. In parallel, cases categorised as containing a very serious allegation are subject of review on a bi-monthly basis by the Director of Operations and the Ombudsman Commission.

Unsupervised Disciplinary InvestigationsUnsupervised disciplinary investigations are undertaken by Garda Síochána Investigating Officers (GSIOs). The median duration of such investigations at the end of 2018 was 268 days, an increase on the 2017 figure of 256 days. Up until 2018 there was a continued improvement that saw the median time drop by nearly two months in the past number of years.

Supervised Disciplinary InvestigationsSupervised disciplinary investigations are undertaken by Garda Síochána Investigating Officers supervised by GSOC investigations officers. The Protocols say that supervised disciplinary investigations must be completed and an investigation report provided within 20 weeks/140 days. The median duration for such investigations in 2018 was 281 days, which is an increase of 8 days on the 2017 figure.

Chart 6: Time taken to close investigations (in days)

2015

2014

2013

2016

2017

2018

Criminalinvestigation

(s. 98)

Informalresolution*

(s. 90)

Disciplinary inv. by Garda

Síochánaunsupervised

(s. 94(1))

Disciplinary inv. by Garda

Síochánasupervised

(s. 94(5))

Non-criminalinv. by GSOC

(s. 95)

Days

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

155

112 101 99115

96 103

147147

308 309279

266 268256

389

244

293

250273 281

298

362

428

260 253

203

104101

* As only one new informal resolution case was opened in 2018, no meaningful 'average' can be provided

28

SECTION 2: INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS FOLLOWING DEATH OR SERIOUS HARM

2.1 REFERRALS FROM THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA UNDER SECTION 102(1)Section 102(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that “the Garda Commissioner shall refer to the Ombudsman Commission any matter that appears to the Garda Commissioner to indicate that the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person”.

GSOC received 38 referrals in 2018 compared with 24 in 2017 and 51 in 2016. The power to refer is delegated by the Garda Commissioner to superintendents whose responsibility it is to decide if it is appropriate to refer an incident, in order that it be investigated independently.

Chart 7: Circumstances in Referrals

24%

40%

26%

5%5%

Other (5%)

Discharge of Firearm (5%)

Death (Non Road Traffic Incidents) (26%)

Road Traffic Incidents (Fatal / Non Fatal) (40%)

Injury / Illness during Arrest / Pursuit / in Custody (24%)

How GSOC Investigates Matters under Section 102 Once GSOC receives a referral from the Garda Síochána, we must investigate the matter.

We aim to respond proportionately, according to the circumstances. It is sometimes the case that, following an initial examination, it is clear that there is no evidence of misbehaviour or criminality by a garda. At the other end of the scale, sometimes it is appropriate to undertake a full criminal investigation and refer the case to the DPP.

Chart 8: Investigation Types in Referrals (Total Referrals Received: 38)

29%

16%

55%

Criminal Investigation by GSOC (16%)

Non-Criminal Investigation by GSOC (55%)

Preliminary Examination (29%)

Fifteen of the referrals received in 2018 related to fatalities. Of these, five related to road traffic incidents.

If there has been a fatality, there must be particular consideration given to the State’s obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Article 2 states that everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law. The European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 requires that Irish state bodies including the Garda Síochána, perform their functions “in a manner compatible with

| Section 2: Independent Investigations Following Death or Serious Harm.

29

the State’s obligations under the convention provisions” (section 3(1)).To be compliant with Article 2, investigations into deaths following police contact should adhere to five principles developed by the European Court of Human Rights. These are:

• Independence• Adequacy• Promptness• Public Scrutiny• Victim Involvement.

The fact that such investigations are undertaken by GSOC fulfils the requirement for independence. We are conscious of upholding the other four principles too. Victim involvement is directly related to the work undertaken in 2018 to comply with legislation outlining the rights of victims of crime.

Case summary

The death of a man, who had attempted suicide before gardaí were called by family members, was referred to GSOC.

Gardaí who went to the scene decided the man should be detained under section 12 of the Mental Health Act.

They handcuffed him for his own safety and that of others. The man became unresponsive, an ambulance was called and two first responders on the scene started CPR. A defibrillator was also used but the man was pronounced dead sometime after his removal to hospital.

Gardaí referred the matter to GSOC under section 102(1) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005—this stipulates that the Garda Commissioner ‘shall’ refer to GSOC any matter that appears to indicate that ‘the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of or serious harm to a person.’

GSOC carried out an investigation and concluded that no culpability could be attributed to the actions of gardaí in the death of the man. »

» GSOC did however submit a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in accordance with the requirements of Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

A file was sent to the DPP with a recommendation from GSOC that there be no prosecution—a direction for no prosecution was given by the DPP.

Case summary

A referral under section 102 (1) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 was made to GSOC by the Garda Síochána following the death of a woman who, immediately prior to her death, was in contact with gardaí. An independent investigation was conducted to establish the circumstances of the woman’s death. The investigation established that gardaí were called after a woman was observed by a member of the public walking along the roadside in the evening while intoxicated. Gardaí located the woman and drove her to the house she identified as her address, left her there and continued their duties. Sometime later the woman walked from this location and was hit by a vehicle and killed.

The matter was referred to GSOC. The GSOC investigation established that gardaí responded to calls of concerns regarding a woman walking on an unlit roadway at night. To ensure the safety of the woman they offered to drive her home. The gardaí had no reason to suspect the address given by the female was incorrect and her level of sobriety did not require garda intervention. The investigation did not disclose any breaches of discipline by gardaí and no further action was taken by GSOC.

Section 2: Independent Investigations Following Death or Serious Harm. |

30

The maps below show the geographical distribution of referrals made by the Garda Síochána in 2018.

DMR North2

DMR West2

DMR East1

DMR North Central3

DMR South0

DMR South Central2

Roscommon /Longford

2 Westmeath0

Meath0

Louth1

Clare0

Kerry2

Cork West0 Cork City

0

Cork North1

Limerick2

Tipperary2

Waterford2

Wexford3

Kilkenny / Carlow

4

Wicklow0

Kildare1Laois / O�aly

2

Galway1

Mayo0

Sligo / Leitrim2

Donegal1

Cavan / Monaghan

2

Harcourt Square0

Map 3: Referrals by Garda Division(Excluding Dublin Metropolitan Region)

0 1 2 3 4 5

Map 4: Referrals by Garda Division – Dublin Metropolitan Region

| Section 2: Independent Investigations Following Death or Serious Harm.

31

2.1.2 Outcomes of investigations following referralsGSOC closed 30 investigations in 2018, initiated (in 2018 or previous years) as a result of referrals from the Garda Síochána.

Table 3: Types of investigation and their outcomes (investigations following referrals, closed in 2018)

Type of investigation and outcome Cases

Case closed after initial examination showed no evidence of misbehaviour or criminality by a garda.

10

Non-criminal investigation undertaken and concluded, finding no evidence of misbehaviour by a garda

– no further action taken.

11

Non-criminal investigation undertaken and concluded– sanction applied by the Garda Commissioner.

0

Non-criminal investigation undertaken and concluded– no sanction applied by the Garda Commissioner.

2

Criminal investigation undertaken and concluded, finding insufficient evidence of criminal misconduct by a garda

– no further action taken.

3

Criminal investigation undertaken and concluded– referred to the DPP – prosecution directed.

1

Criminal investigation undertaken and concluded– referred to the DPP – no prosecution directed.

3

Case discontinued due to lack of cooperation from the injured party and no other issues of concern.

0

TOTAL 30

Section 2: Independent Investigations Following Death or Serious Harm. |

32

In addition to providing for the referral of matters to GSOC by the Garda Commissioner, section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for investigations to be undertaken in the public interest, even in the absence of a complaint or a referral by the Garda Commissioner.

The Minister for Justice and Equality and the Policing Authority can request GSOC to investigate certain matters, and can also ask GSOC to consider whether it should investigate a matter.

GSOC can also decide to conduct public interest investigations in the absence of complaints or referrals.

Section 102 (4) of the Act provides that:

“The Ombudsman Commission may, if it appears to it desirable in the public interest to do so and without receiving a complaint, investigate any matter that appears to it to indicate that a member of the Garda Síochána may have-

(a) committed an offence, or(b) behaved in a manner that would justify

disciplinary proceedings”.

Section 102 (5) adds that:

“The Minister may, if he or she considers it desirable in the public interest to do so, request the Ombudsman Commission to investigate any matter that gives rise to a concern that a member of the Garda Síochána may have done anything referred to in subsection (4), and the Commission shall investigate the matter.”

In addition, the Policing Authority may request GSOC to investigate matters in the public interest and both the Policing Authority and the Minister may refer a matter to GSOC for the Ombudsman Commission to consider whether it should investigate it in the public interest.

Seventeen (17) public interest investigations were opened in 2018 and 14 were closed.

Three of the 17 public interest investigations opened by GSOC in 2018 are described briefly here:

• The Ombudsman Commission became aware through media reports of the temporary loss of a garda sub-machine gun from an official garda vehicle and the return of the lost firearm by a member of the public. The Commission was concerned about the reports in the media and the apparent lack of security that these reports suggested. The Commission was of the view that an independent investigation was necessary to ensure public confidence in the civilian oversight of policing at a time of an increased number of armed gardaí on the streets. The investigation is ongoing.

• The Ombudsman Commission initiated an investigation in the public interest on foot of media reports that a member of the public gained access to the presidential residence, Áras an Uachtaráin. The member of the public was reported to have driven through the front gate, walked in the front door and confronted President Higgins. This front gate is guarded by the Garda Síochána. The Ombudsman Commission initiated an investigation based on the media reports and the apparent lack of security that was suggested. The investigation is ongoing.

• The Ombudsman Commission initiated an investigation in the public interest on foot of information received from the Garda Síochána. This information suggested that a garda van driven from a garda station carrying a prisoner may have been driving dangerously and without due care prior to a collision with a vehicle driven by a member of the public. The investigation is ongoing.

SECTION 3: INVESTIGATIONS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

| Section 3: Investigations in the Public Interest

33

» The Garda Síochána received information that individuals driving a vehicle, in possession of a firearm, were planning to shoot another individual.

A number of units, including armed units were deployed to the location of a suspect vehicle containing two men.

The vehicle took off at speed and the three gardaí pursued. During the course of the pursuit a bag containing a handgun was thrown from the vehicle—the bag was later recovered by gardaí.

The vehicle then came to a halt and the occupants fled towards another waiting vehicle. The gardaí in pursuit succeeded in apprehending one man and arresting him. Meanwhile the other man attempted to leave the scene in the waiting vehicle, colliding with parked cars on his way.

The garda who had arrested the first man, believed they were in danger due to the aggressive driving of the other man in the vehicle so the garda discharged one shot from a firearm at the driver. Six more shots were discharged by other gardaí at the driver.

The driver continued to aggressively manoeuvre the vehicle and ultimately escaped.

Upon considering the available information GSOC decided to investigate the incident in accordance with Section 102(4) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.

The investigation centred on whether the discharge of the firearms was lawful and necessary, and if there were any potential offences under the Section 8 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 (Reckless discharge of a firearm).

The GSOC investigation found that the discharge of firearms by the members was legal and necessary in these circumstances.

Case summary

Gardaí referred a matter to GSOC after three members of the Garda Regional Support Unit (RSU) discharged their conducted electrical weapons (Tasers) in a family home.

The RSU gardaí had been sent to a house after a call to gardaí saying that a person with a knife was threatening to hurt herself and her partner. The door was opened by the person who called gardaí.

While the person was speaking with the officers, the armed person emerged in front of the gardaí. Officers asked her to show them her hands, and when she did gardaí saw that she was carrying a knife.

Gardaí demanded that the person drop the knife, and warned that they were armed with Tasers and would discharge them if necessary. The knife-wielding person then lunged towards the gardaí, at which point all three members discharged their Tasers simultaneously.

The woman was given first aid by the members before being brought to hospital to have the Taser ‘barbs’ removed.

GSOC was notified and an investigation was launched into the circumstances of the discharge of the Tasers.

The GSOC investigation concluded that the discharge was lawful and that the RSU members reacted proportionately in the circumstances.

Case summary

GSOC opened an investigation in the public interest following the discharge of firearms by gardaí following the pursuit and interception of armed men. »

Section 3: Investigations in the Public Interest |

34

INDEPENDENT REVIEW MECHANISMIn addition to the above, four investigations which came to GSOC from the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) remained open at the end of 2018.

The IRM was established by the-then Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald TD in 2014. Its purpose was to consider allegations of garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of such allegations, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action might be required in each case. A panel of two senior and five junior counsel was established to review allegations.

Under section 102(5) of the Garda Síochána Act, the Minister requested GSOC to investigate 21 cases arising from the IRM. Ten of the investigations were opened in 2015 and 11 in 2016. Of the 21 investigations received, four remained open at the end of 2018.

| Section 3: Investigations in the Public Interest

35

SECTION 4: LOCAL INTERVENTION INITIATIVE

Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford—in the latter part of 2018.

Discussions also took place with the DMR (West) Region at the end of 2018 and arrangements put in place for the introduction of Local Intervention from early 2019.

In the absence of the scheme, the majority of these matters would most likely have been dealt with in the formal complaints process under the Garda Discipline Regulations. This entails a garda superintendent or garda inspector investigating complaints and a GSOC staff member managing the process.

Statistical data over the past ten years shows that the member of the public making the complaint, and the garda or gardaí against whom a complaint was made, could expect to wait nine months (or more) for the investigation to be completed and outcome to be notified. The investigation could only address whether or not there had been misbehaviour on the part of the garda or gardaí, and could not ‘resolve’ the issue which caused the complainant to contact GSOC in the first instance.

Several hundred investigations into allegations of discourtesy and ‘low-level’ neglect of duty (such as failure to return phone calls) are opened by GSOC every year with the concomitant deployment of GSOC and garda resources.

It was against this background that the Garda Síochána and GSOC agreed to initiate this new process and develop what we described as the Local Intervention initiative.

It was introduced with the aim of achieving satisfaction for complainants who were dissatisfied with the level of service received from the Garda Síochána and, equally importantly, providing senior garda management the opportunity to monitor and improve customer service. The key to the entire process however was the agreement of the complainant to engage in the new process, without which local intervention could not be attempted. The assignment of a designated garda inspector to intervene was also essential and proved to be

BACKGROUND For many years GSOC has been very conscious of the lack of satisfaction felt by people who make complaints of failure in service provision by gardaí. There was also an awareness that the length of time taken to investigate this type of complaint under the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations could cause considerable stress to a garda subject of complaint. Discussions had taken place with the garda authorities some years ago with a view to identifying a more satisfactory method of complaint resolution so, when GSOC was approached by the Garda Síochána at the end of 2017 with a proposal for Local Intervention, it was viewed as a very positive step towards working collaboratively to achieve GSOC’s section 67 objectives3 and the initiative was, and is, strongly supported by GSOC.

A pilot scheme for resolving service level complaints was begun in the Dublin Metropolitan (South Central) Region at the beginning of 2018.

Table 4: Outlines the activity over the pilot period to the end of 2018

District No. Referred

No. Resolved

Other outcome

A (Kevin Street) 12 10 2 investigations

B Pearse Street) 29 14 7 investigations6 closed2 outstanding

E (Donnybrook) 6 5 1 closed

62% of complaints were resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant. Nine cases merited further investigation and were referred to the Garda Commissioner for unsupervised investigation. Three cases were closed because complainants failed to pursue their complaint by engaging with GSOC and a further three were closed because the complainant achieved satisfaction before the process could begin. Two cases remained on hand at the end of the year.

The pilot scheme was extended to the South Eastern Region—comprising Carlow/Kilkenny,

3 Section 67 (1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 sets out the objectives of GSOC as follows: To ensure that its functions are performed in an efficient and effective manner with full fairness to all persons involved in

complaints and investigations under Part 4 (of the Act) concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána, and to promote public confidence in the process for resolving those complaints.

Section 4: Local Intervention Initiative |

36 | Section 4: Local Intervention Initiative

beneficial. Complainants appreciated the fact that a garda with authority contacted them and was working on their behalf to establish the facts and resolve the matter for them.

Significantly, the timescale for the new process was set at a maximum of six weeks. If the matter could not be resolved within that timeframe, it would then revert to the standard process applied to all other complaints. There were however a small number of matters referred for intervention which took longer than the six weeks intended because the inspector wanted to ensure a process was being undertaken and would progress.

The alternative to local intervention is to initiate a lengthy disciplinary process which does not address the core issue complained of.

Discussions are already underway to expand the programme incrementally until it is in place nationwide by the end of 2019.

THE PILOT SCHEME This section describes the features of the pilot scheme of the local intervention initiative which will be replicated as the initiative is extended to other garda divisions.

When a complaint is received by GSOC, GSOC decides whether or not the matter is suitable for local intervention.

Only service level issues, such as discourtesy or low level neglect-of-duty type complaints, are considered for local intervention. The types of issues which are considered include:

• Poor quality or standard of service provided

• Inefficient or no service• Incivility/impoliteness/rudeness• Lack of response to communications

If the issue is suitable for this process, GSOC contacts the person making the complaint, explains the local intervention process and asks if they will consent to having the matter dealt with in this way. If the complainant consents, GSOC refers the matter to a nominated garda inspector

who manages the process on behalf of the Garda Síochána.

The process involves the nominated garda inspector contacting the complainant by phone to identify what actions or outcomes he/she is seeking to achieve. It also entails the garda inspector having a discussion with the member concerned to explore what may have led to the issue. This process is not about apportioning blame—it is about addressing the issue raised and learning from what has happened to prevent a reoccurrence.

If a complaint is resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant, the garda inspector notifies GSOC. GSOC contacts the complainant to confirm satisfaction and obtain feedback on the process. Once the complainant is satisfied, the file is closed. Should attempts to resolve the complaint through local intervention be unsuccessful, the complaint is referred back to GSOC which decides if the complaint should be admitted for further investigation.

THE PROCESSAll cases received by GSOC are recorded initially on the Case Management System (CMS) as ‘queries’. These cases are not upgraded to complaints until such time as there is sufficient information available to allow GSOC to make an admissibility determination.

Cases which are identified as suitable for local intervention remain as ‘queries’ rather than ‘complaints’. This is significant as the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 under which GSOC operates is quite prescriptive in the actions GSOC must take once a query has been categorised as a complaint. For example, the Garda Commissioner must be notified of the receipt of all complaints, whether or not they are deemed admissible; garda members must also be notified; and, once a complaint is admissible, Garda Síochána Investigations Officers must be appointed or GSOC’s own investigators tasked to carry out the investigations.

Stage 1After a ‘query’ is assessed by GSOC as being suitable for local intervention, the member of the public who has raised the issue is contacted by

37Section 4: Local Intervention Initiative |

STATISTICSStatistics in relation to the number and type of service-level complaints made and resolved will be maintained by GSOC and the nominated inspectors.

The statistics will be compiled jointly with GSOC and furnished on a quarterly basis to the local Regional and Divisional Garda Officers and to GSOC’s Communications and Research Unit. A copy of same will also be furnished to Garda Síochána Internal Affairs. These statistics reflect the number of issues referred, resolved, returned to GSOC unresolved and the type of resolution required/achieved. In addition, the nominated inspector will be required to identify trends and, through the provision of anonymous data, communicate the findings locally to improve the service provided in their local area and afford GSOC the opportunity to consider the appropriate referral of future complaints for local intervention.

CONCLUSIONTrends emergingGSOC has already identified four trends which have caused members of the public to contact the office expressing dissatisfaction. These have been highlighted to the garda authorities with a view to bringing about change.

SupervisionPULSE provides an opportunity for garda supervisors to view the workloads of their staff and take action in cases where there has been none. It appears that the flags which signify delay in progress have not been acted upon by supervisors (there may be mitigating factors at play) and investigations can be and have been delayed. In addition, members of the public remain in the dark as to progress.

Sick LeaveThere have been cases where members of the Garda Síochána were on sick leave for varying lengths of time. Members of the public are not aware that the garda has no access to email out of the workplace and there is no automated response. They are unaware and are not directed towards supervisors for assistance in these cases.

GSOC and asked if he or she will agree to local intervention.

When the person gives consent, GSOC sends the matter to the nominated inspector.

Stage 2The nominated garda inspector contacts the complainant and establishes what actions or outcomes the complainant hopes to achieve. This is done within seven days of receipt of the matter from GSOC.

Stage 3The nominated garda inspector contacts the garda complained of in relation to the issues raised with a view to discussing the complainant’s expressed dissatisfaction and seeking to establish a possible resolution.

Stage 4The inspector contacts the complainant to advise on the action taken to address the matter. If the matter is resolved to the complainants’ satisfaction, the outcome is notified to GSOC. The garda member will also be advised by the inspector that the matter is concluded. If the matter is not resolved, the inspector informs GSOC who will then decide on what further action, if any, is to be taken. GSOC determines the admissibility or otherwise of the complaint at that point.

Stage 5GSOC contacts the complainant to confirm resolution or, if the matter is not resolved, GSOC decides if the complaint should be admitted for further investigation.

AnonymityIt is important to note that unlike complaints, GSOC does not associate members of the Garda Síochána with these cases on our Case Management System (CMS). The rationale for this is to encourage members of the Garda Síochána to engage with the process, knowing in advance that there will be no negative impact on them as a result.

38

CommunicationThe majority of complaints related to allegations of failure – local intervention has established that in the main there has been no failure in duty but a failure to communicate. It is important that gardaí communicate more with members of the public whether relaying good or bad news. Communication of any kind is likely to reduce the number of contacts with GSOC by the public.

DiscourtesyMembers of the public allege gardaí display their annoyance/frustration inappropriately and spontaneously. Gardaí who react in this way lose the moral high ground if they lower their standards and speak in a discourteous manner to an individual.

COST IMPLICATIONSThis initiative predates the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (published in September) but is very much in line with the report’s recommendations. The Commission on the Future of Policing strongly recommended that what it called ‘service’ complaints should be dealt with as a management matter by the Garda Síochána rather than immediately going into a formal disciplinary process.

The local initiative displays collaborative working relations between GSOC and the Garda Síochána in a manner which can be of benefit to all stakeholders including the public.

The resource implications of a large number of complaints being resolved locally and quickly are significant—and positive—for both GSOC and the Garda Síochána. Each complaint that goes into the formal investigation process (under section 94 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005) requires many hours work over months, and sometimes years, on the part of a garda superintendent and garda inspector who investigate on behalf of GSOC. It also places demands on GSOC staff who have responsibility for managing the complaints process and/or supervising the investigation.

The diversion of service complaints which might otherwise become the subject of lengthy investigations into local intervention would free up

the time of many senior garda officers and GSOC staff for their other duties.

| Section 4: Local Intervention Initiative

39

SECTION 5: LEGAL ACTIVITY FOLLOWING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

count of dangerous driving (summary charge only), one count of using a vehicle for which motor tax licence is not in force contrary to section 13 (1) of the Road Traffic Act 1920 and one count of failing to display a tax disc contrary to section 73 (1) of the Finance Act 1976.

CASES CONCLUDED IN COURT IN 2018Six cases which followed GSOC criminal investigations were before the courts in 2018—all related to files sent to the DPP before 2018.

• On 5 February 2018 a garda pleaded guilty to sexual assault contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law Rape Amendment Act 1990. The garda was sentenced to two years imprisonment on 12 October 2018. (see panel for case study).

• On 23 February 2018 a charge was brought against a garda of assault contrary to section 2 of the Non- Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act. The garda was acquitted.

• On 5 March 2018 two members of the Garda Síochána were dealt with by way of adult caution. Both were charged with assault contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 (see panel for case study). The decision to administer an adult caution is made by the DPP.

• A garda member was convicted of careless driving and fined €500 in March 2018.

• A garda member charged with two counts of assault contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 was dealt with by way of adult caution. On the 9 November 2018 an adult caution was administered.

• A garda was convicted in December of dangerous driving causing death.

Criminal investigations are undertaken by GSOC following complaints (described in section 1) and referrals (described in section 2) from the Garda Síochána and others, who may include the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Upon completion of the investigation, if the Commission is of the opinion that the conduct of the member or members under investigation may constitute an offence, GSOC must send a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

GSOC also sends files to the DPP in cases where there has been a death in garda custody or following from the deceased’s interaction with gardaí even when GSOC has found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of gardaí. GSOC has adopted this policy having regard to Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

It is the DPP who decides whether or not to prosecute the case in court.

FILES SENT TO DPPIn 2018, GSOC sent 17 files to the DPP following criminal investigation by GSOC investigators. Arising from these, there were:

• 4 directions for prosecution• 9 directions for no prosecution • 4 decisions pending at the end of 2018

In addition, the DPP directed no prosecution in relation to a file that was awaiting a decision at the end of 2017.

Directions for prosecution were given in the following cases:

• One count of making a false report contrary to section 12 (A) of the Criminal Law Act 1976 (this is not against a member of the Garda Síochána)

• Assault causing harm contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 against two separate garda members

• Dangerous driving contrary to section 53 of the Road Traffic Act 1961

• One count of assault contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act (summary charge only), one

Section 5: Legal Activity following Criminal Investigation. |

40

Adult Caution The Adult Cautioning Scheme came into effect in 2006 as an alternative to prosecuting people for certain offences. The decision to administer an adult caution rather than initiate a prosecution is one for the local garda superintendent (or a garda inspector acting as the District Officer).However, in GSOC investigations the decision to administer a caution is a matter for the DPP.

The caution must be administered in a garda station, save in exceptional circumstances.

The administration of an adult caution requires the person accused of an offence accepting responsibility for the behaviour in question, and a warning (caution) that any future behaviour of a similar criminal nature will likely result in prosecution.

The offender must be deemed suitable for cautioning and often those without previous convictions will be deemed eligible for an adult caution. A person should ordinarily receive an adult caution once —it is then only in exceptional circumstances (for example, when a subsequent offence is very minor, or where a long time has elapsed since the previous offence) that a person could be considered for a second adult caution. In these cases the permission of the DPP must be sought.

Before an adult caution is administered, the views of the victim should be sought and considered.

An adult caution can only be administered in relation to certain specified offences.

These include:• minor assaults (that is, contrary to

section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act, 1997)

• being drunk in a public place, disorderly conduct in a public place and a number of other offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 »

• theft where the value of the property doesn’t exceed €1,000 (contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud offences) Act 2001), and

• offences by a drunken person (contrary to section 6 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2003).

In cases which arise from GSOC investigations, the caution is administered in the presence of GSOC officers. GSOC officers will be requested to seek the views of the injured party, and while the views of the injured party will be taken into account, they are not determinative. If an injured party is opposed to the matter being dealt with by means of an adult caution, the matter should be referred by the Garda Síochána to the DPP who will make the final decision.

Cases Pending before the Courts at the end of 2018

• A garda charged with sexual assault of a minor

• A garda charged with assault contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and criminal damage contrary to section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1991

• A member of the Garda Síochána was facing charges of dangerous driving causing death contrary to section 53 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, dangerous driving causing serious harm contrary to section 52 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, leaving the scene of an accident contrary to section 106 (1) (B) and failure to offer assistance contrary to section 106 (A) of the Road Traffic Act 1961

• A member of the Garda Síochána charged with assault contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997

• A member of the Garda Síochána charged with theft contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and assault contrary

| Section 5: Legal Activity following Criminal Investigation.

41

» The woman retired to bed while others continued to talk in the sitting-room area of the accommodation. She was woken sometime later by a man—a member of the group—who had got into bed with her and was molesting her.

The man sought to apologise to the woman and her husband on Facebook the next day, but the couple went to a garda station soon after and made a statement.

GSOC’s investigation included the analysis of phone and social media messages, as well as interviews with people who had attended the charity event.

Following its investigation, GSOC sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions who directed the garda be prosecuted for sexual assault contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape)(Amendment) Act 1990.

The trial, before a jury, took place over a number of days during which the victim and others gave evidence. In her evidence, the woman spoke of her initial difficulties in reporting the incident saying:

“Who would take my word above that of a garda who is supposed to be a pillar of the community and above the law?"

Shortly before the jury was due to begin its deliberations, the accused garda pleaded guilty.

He was served with dismissal papers by the Garda Commissioner after he was sentenced to two years in prison. He then resigned and his resignation was accepted.

to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997

• A person (not a member of the Garda Síochána) is charged with making a false report contrary to section 12 (A) of the Criminal Law Act 1976

• Two members of the Garda Síochána charged with assault causing harm contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act

• A member of the Garda Síochána charged with assault contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, dangerous driving, using a vehicle for which motor tax is not in force, and failing to display a tax disc.

Case summary

A garda was sentenced to two years imprisonment for sexual assault following an investigation by GSOC.

The criminal investigation was begun after a woman made a statement at a garda station in which she described being sexually assaulted by a man who she knew to be a garda a few days earlier. Some inquiries were made by gardaí before the complaint was sent to GSOC--the victim was asked and consented to having the matter dealt with by GSOC.

GSOC investigators interviewed the victim and other witnesses to the events surrounding what was then an alleged sexual assault.

It was established that the incident happened after a charity event which had been attended by the woman and a number of friends and acquaintances. The group, which included the off-duty garda, was staying overnight in apartment-style accommodation, and had had a meal and a few drinks together before returning to the accommodation and continuing to socialise. »

Section 5: Legal Activity following Criminal Investigation. |

42 | Section 5: Legal Activity following Criminal Investigation.

Case summary

Two gardaí were charged with assault following an investigation by GSOC.

The investigation followed a referral to GSOC by a garda superintendent of an incident in which a man was arrested following a 45 minute pursuit of him by several garda vehicles—the pursuit ended when the car being pursued by gardaí was in collision with a garda vehicle.

The man was arrested and taken to a garda station where a test showed that his alcohol level was below the legal limit. On his release the man attended hospital where he was treated for a number of injuries including a wound which required a number of stitches.

Gardaí who were involved in the pursuit and were present at the scene of the arrest provided accounts of what happened-these accounts were forwarded to GSOC.

Several gardaí described the man as struggling and resisting arrest as he was taken from the crashed car.

In their accounts, two of the gardaí described the man being kicked and struck by two other gardaí after he had been handcuffed and was lying face down on the ground.

While GSOC’s investigation was begun on foot of a referral under section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, the man also complained to GSOC that he had been assaulted by gardaí.

GSOC conducted a criminal investigation which resulted in a file being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP directed that two gardaí be prosecuted for assault under section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. »

» A short time before the court hearing, a solicitor for the two gardaí made an application to the DPP for the matter to be dealt with under the Adult Caution Scheme (this is explained earlier in this section). The injured party and GSOC were consulted and made no objection.

The two gardaí were subsequently administered an adult caution—in accepting the caution, the two admitted the offence under section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

GSOC closed its investigation and took no further action.

Case summary

GSOC launched a criminal investigation after a person complained to GSOC about an encounter he and another family member had with an off-duty garda. The two family members were doing some work on a car when a man, who identified himself as a garda, ordered them to move the vehicle.

The complainant told GSOC that the off-duty garda had repeatedly demanded that they move the car, and had put his hand on the arm of the other family member on a number of occasions.

The off-duty garda phoned the local garda station after the incident.

The complainant told GSOC that he later went to the garda station and, when asked at the station if he wanted to make a complaint, said he just wanted the off-duty garda to apologise to his family member.

The complaint came to GSOC and, because the allegation may have amounted to an allegation of assault, a criminal investigation—under section 98 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005—was conducted by GSOC. »

43Section 5: Legal Activity following Criminal Investigation.e |

» During the course of the investigation, the GSOC investigator reviewed dash-cam footage from the car on which the complainant had been working at the time of the encounter.

The GSOC investigator said the dash-cam had captured the incident and showed the off-duty garda to be acting in a demanding and unreasonable manner—he did not give the complainant and the other person an opportunity to move the car before going on to make further demands.

It also showed the complainant and the other person as being generally cooperative with the garda.

At the conclusion of the investigation, GSOC sent a file to the DPP.

The DPP directed that there be no prosecution in the case.

GSOC informed the Garda Commissioner of the DPP’s decision, and said there was no basis for any further investigation by GSOC in relation to disciplinary matters.

44

SECTION 6: INFORMING GARDA POLICY AND POLICING PRACTICE

The Ombudsman Commission believes that highlighting systemic or management issues when they arise, and making recommendations to avoid the recurrence of similar incidents, is an important element of oversight.

SYSTEMIC RECOMMENDATIONS GSOC investigators sometimes encounter practices or issues during the course of their investigations which GSOC believes need to be brought to the attention of garda management. The practices or issues outlined here relate to systemic or management issues rather than to the behaviour of individuals.

Table 5: Recommendations made to the Garda Síochána in 2018

General subject matter

Specific subject matter

Recommendation and response

SR1 S.102 Referral Family Liaison Officer Deployment

GSOC began an investigation into circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a member of the public. Although the investigation found that the garda concerned was not in breach of discipline, he could have done more as a member of the Garda Síochána to impart the seriousness of the family’s request for assistance to gardaí stationed locally. Further, as a professional police officer, the garda should have documented to whom he had relayed the message in the garda station.

It was also found that the manner of engaging with and managing the needs and expectations of grieving relatives would have been much better addressed through the dedicated use of trained Family Liaison Officers (FLO).

GSOC highlighted systemic failures identified in this case and in particular, sought to remind the Garda Síochána of the following policies:

1. A Directive that requires that all calls for service received by the Garda Síochána will be recorded at the time of the initial report.

2. A Directive that requires that a garda member receiving a complaint or report has a duty to provide their name and station telephone number.

3. Garda Family Liaison Policy - requires that where the Dis-trict Officer deems necessary a Garda FLO will be deployed to an incident which involves a sudden death. Further the policy outlines “that the early deployment of a Garda FLO by the District Officer is central to the success of the Garda FLO service. The leadership role of the District Officer and the adoption of professionally structured communications with victims / victims’ families, in the immediate aftermath of trau-matic incidents, is paramount.

Recommendation sent 15/02/018.

Letter of acknowledgement received 31/07/2018.

| Section 6: Informing Garda Policy and Policing Practice

45




SR2 Public Interest Investigation

Information Awareness among Members re Warnings

In the course of investigations into a case involving very serious injury, a recommendation was made by GSOC highlighting concerns in relation to the information available throughout the general garda membership about the risks posed by one of the people involved, which were known to certain gardaí. As part of the recommendation, reference was made to the greater use of the Alert section of the PULSE system.

Recommendation sent 20/04/2018

Reply received demonstrated that the Garda Síochána gave serious consideration to the recommendation. The Garda response pointed out their current practice is to disseminate material as widely as they consider safe and operationally appropriate. The response also pointed out that the general diffusion of information throughout the Garda Síochána can have a negative effect as the impact of warnings could be reduced if they were to become more frequent.

SR3 94(1) Investigation/ 94(10) Review

Role of Members in House Repossessions

This arose during an investigation relating to the supporting role of Garda members in a house repossession. GSOC recommended that guidance be issued regarding the attendance of gardaí at the repossession of property.

A similar recommendation was made in 2013


Letter of acknowledgment received from Internal Affairs dated 24/09/2018

SR4 94(1) Investigation/ 94(10) Review

Mutual Assistance Section/ Delay in Applying for Communications Data

This arose during an investigation by GSOC into abusive and threatening messages received by the complainant and his fiancée through their social media accounts. The investigating garda submitted a request for Mutual Legal Assistance who advised him they were monitoring the matter on his behalf. A reply was received 1 year later, six months after which the garda applied for details relating to IP addresses. The data was no longer available. The delay resulted in relevant evidence being lost.

GSOC recommended that a review be conducted of the processes within the Mutual Assistance section to ensure that requests for communication data are monitored effectively so that subsequent enquiries can be initiated within the timescale allowed by legislation.


Letter of acknowledgment received from Internal Affairs dated 25/10/2018

Section 6: Informing Garda Policy and Policing Practice |

46 | Section 6: Informing Garda Policy and Policing Practice




SR5 S. 102 Referral Wearing of Seatbelts by Garda Members

An investigation was carried out by GSOC following a road traffic collision between a private motor vehicle and a garda van. Examination of the seatbelts confirmed that the garda travelling in the passenger seat was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.

GSOC recommends that the Garda Síochána remind all members of the requirement for all gardaí to wear seatbelts given the potential for serious injury and the example that members should be expected to set for members of the public when it comes to observing the provisions of the Road Traffic Legislation.


No reply received by 31/12/2018

SR6 Criminal Investigation

Custody Records -Recording of Property

This set of recommendations relates to three separate investigations carried out by GSOC. The circumstances of each case differ slightly, but all cases involved a common situation where a prisoner’s property was not handed over directly to the Member in Charge or Gaoler at the time of processing and it was not recorded in the custody record.

GSOC recommends as follows:

• That all operational gardaí are reminded of the requirement to complete an accurate and complete custody record, and that the proper recording of all property taken from a prisoner is essential.

• That all gardaí are reminded that all property should be recorded on the custody record in the presence of the prisoner and signed for by the prisoner. Any refusal to sign must be recorded in the custody record.

• That a directive is issued, instructing all gardaí that any property seized or taken from the prisoner post-initial processing should also be recorded in the custody record. Any refusal to sign should be recorded.

• That all gardaí are reminded of the obligation to have a prisoner sign for the return of their property, and that any refusal to sign should be recorded.

• That all gardaí are instructed that any property seized from a prisoner prior to presentation to the member in charge should be documented in the member’s notebook, and the member in charge informed so that it can be recorded in the custody record.

47Section 6: Informing Garda Policy and Policing Practice |




• That the Garda Síochána conduct a review across the Divisions to establish what “in house” practices may have evolved, and ensure consistency. This would assist in reducing the number of theft allegations against gardaí being submitted to GSOC, and will provide members with additional protection when such allegations are made.

• That the Garda Síochána consider introducing the use of sealed tamper-proof property bags for storage of prisoners’ property whilst in custody.

Recommendation sent on 18/12/2018

No reply received by 31/12/2018

SR7 Crime Investigation

Record Keeping/ Planning and Management of Garda Operations

An investigation was carried out by GSOC following the search of a complainant’s home. Amongst the allegations, the complainant stated that her son was injured during the search and required hospital treatment for wounds sustained from broken glass when gardaí forced entry. Although it was found that there was insufficient evidence to prove the criminal allegations, a number of issues arose regarding the planning of the garda search operation, and the documentation produced.

GSOC recommends the following:

• That all operational gardaí should make a notebook entry regarding their presence during a search, describing any matters which arise.

• That all operational gardaí should be instructed that any evidential or potentially evidential finds made during a search should be noted by the relevant member in their own notebook, detailing when and where found.

• That the Garda Síochána issue a standardised search log, and issue a directive requiring that it is used in every search.

• That all gardaí are reminded of the requirements of chapter 8 of the Garda Overarching Use of Force Policy, specifically in that planning meetings for any planned operation involving armed officers or where the use of force is anticipated be properly documented.

• That all gardaí are reminded of the requirement of chapter 8 of the Garda Overarching Use of Force Policy, in that all planned operations should have a detailed operational plan and operational briefing order, and that all briefings must be properly documented.

48 | Section 6: Informing Garda Policy and Policing Practice




• That the Garda Síochána consider amending operational order templates to include an equipment check-list, to confirm that any breaching equipment has been checked and confirmed in working order prior to deployment.


Letter of acknowledgment received from Internal Affairs dated 28/02/2019, advising that GSOC’s recommendations have been forwarded to AC Security and Intelligence and Others for consideration and GSOC will be updated of any action taken on foot of same

49Section 7: Protected Disclosures |

In March 2018, the first full time GSOC investigators were allocated to the new GSOC Protected Disclosures Unit following its establishment and a recruitment process run by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

Sanction had been given the previous year (2017) by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) for five staff for the unit, and the recruitment of an additional five people for the unit was authorised in November 2018.

The year ended with four investigating officers, including the senior investigating officer who heads the unit and who was already working with GSOC, and one support staff member working in the unit and dealing solely with protected disclosures. A further five investigators and an analyst will join the unit in 2019.

The Ombudsman Commission had previously identified the need for a separate unit within GSOC which would deal with protected disclosures but not with any other complaints made in the usual way to GSOC. Gardaí and other employees of the Garda Síochána make protected disclosures directly to the three Ombudsman Commissioners—the disclosures are then processed within the Protected Disclosures Unit.

FIGURESSection 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires each public body to publish an annual report outlining the number of protected disclosures received in the preceding year.

In 2018, 24 protected disclosures were made to GSOC by members and/or employees of the Garda Síochána under sections 7 and 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act. With 25 protected disclosures remaining under examination or investigation at the end of 2017, this brought to 49 the number on hand in 2018.

During the year, 13 were discontinued. GSOC can discontinue if, following an examination, it is determined that the matter falls outside of the parameters set out in section 5(3) of the 2014 Act which details the relevant ‘wrongdoings’ covered by the legislation.

It may also be decided that it is not necessary or reasonably practicable to proceed if matters are already under investigation by a statutory agency, or information about the matter has already come into the public domain through a process such as court proceedings. It may also be discontinued if the disclosure relates to matters for which GSOC has no statutory investigative powers.

Matters can be discontinued at any stage following the withdrawal or disengagement from the process of the person making the disclosure.

The remaining 36 were being examined or under investigation at the end of 2018.

GSOC STAFF AND PROTECTED DISCLOSURESIn 2016 GSOC established policy and procedures for its own staff to make disclosures under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.

No internal disclosures were received in 2018, nor had any been received during 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

SECTION 7: PROTECTED DISCLOSURES

50

SECTION 8: GDPR AND DATA ACCESS

GSOC’s Data Protection Unit can be contacted at [email protected].

FOI AND OTHER REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION In addition to providing information under data protection legislation, GSOC is also partially subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 2014 and regularly deals with requests for information under this Act.

In 2018, requests were received for various types of information such as garda firearm discharge statistics, complaint statistics, correspondence between GSOC and other public bodies and information from specific case files. Requests came from different sources – journalists, members of the public and complainants mostly. Overall, GSOC processed 47 FOI requests in 2018.

GSOC also provides information to the public through representations made by members of the Oireachtas to GSOC directly or via the parliamentary questions process.

GSOC liaises regularly with the Policing Division in the DJE to provide such information. The volume of information requests received in 2018 is set out below.

Table 6: Information requests processed in 2018

Request Type Volume

Requests under the Data Protection Acts 2003 and 2018

65

Requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2014

47

Representations from members of the Oireachtas

16

Media Enquiries 208

Submissions in response to Parliamentary Questions

59

GDPR The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect on 25 May 2018 and applies to the processing of personal data within the EU. Because GSOC processes personal information for the purposes of criminal investigations, GSOC is also subject to the Law Enforcement Directive (LED) which applies to the processing of personal data by data controllers who are competent for the investigation, detection, prevention or prosecution of criminal offences. The Data Protection Act 2018 gives further effect to the GDPR and transposes the LED into Irish law. GSOC has been working towards compliance with the obligations and requirements of this new data protection regime since 2017 and throughout 2018.

A Data Protection Officer was appointed in May 2018.

The Data Protection Officer is responsible for informing and providing guidance to GSOC staff and the Commission regarding their obligations under the data protection law as well as liaising with the office of the Data Protection Commission as required and acting as the point of contact for all data subjects.

GSOC sought additional resources to support this role in the business case (which was later approved) sent to the Department of Justice and Equality with a view to establishing a Data Protection & FOI Unit in early 2019. The work of the GDPR Implementation Group continued throughout the year, mapping, quantifying, reviewing and revising GSOC’s data handling processes, reviewing its data protection policies and procedures as well as redrafting our standard complaint form, privacy notices and website content.

GDPR awareness presentations were delivered to all staff throughout the year and a GDPR Awareness in the Workplace course was procured and will be delivered in 2019 to all staff on a mandatory basis. The work of the Implementation Group continued throughout 2018 and was ongoing into 2019.

| Section 8: GDPR and Data Access

51

use these panels in 2019 to fill the additional administrative staff provided for in the sanction received.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENTThe Ombudsman Commission continued with its commitment to the on-going training, up-skilling and development of its staff in 2018. The work of GSOC’s L&D Manager, separate to the more general human resources function, ensured that the needs of GSOC staff for increased access to training and development opportunities were met. Apart from planning and implementing our own internal training programme, GSOC staff have also been able to avail of the suite of programmes centrally operated by the One Learning Shared Service under the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2014. In 2018, the L&D Unit facilitated 26 different training courses or programmes for GSOC staff, 15 of which were provided by the One Learning Framework. Out of the 95 staff (including three Commissioners), 73 attended one or more of these courses. This equates to 80 per cent of all staff.

Some of the more significant training provided to GSOC staff in 2018 included:

• Children First awareness training (54 Operations staff)

• Designated Liaison Person (DLP) training (14 Operations staff)

• Investigative Interviewing training (Investigators)

• Injury Photography training (6 Caseworkers – In-house training)

• Data Protection training for Data Controllers (2 staff)

• ITIL Foundation training course (1 IT staff member)

• SharePoint 2013 Site Owner training (Various staff).

GSOC’s line managers completed programmes for Executive Leadership and Management Development in 2018. In addition, a number of GSOC staff pursued educational and training courses on their own time and in accordance with the refund of fees scheme provided for under DPER Circular 23/2007.

STAFF NUMBERSAt 31 December 2018, GSOC had 92 staff of whom 22 were employed in its Administration Directorate and 70 in the Operations Directorate. Two of GSOC’s investigations officers were on secondment to the Disclosures Tribunal for the entire year.

In addition to these staffing numbers, GSOC had three Commissioners, two ICT contractors and one person contracted to provide media and communications services.

In February 2018, GSOC submitted a business case to the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE) and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), outlining the urgent need for additional staff to allow the organisation fulfil its current remit. This document was chiefly concerned with GSOC’s immediate requirement for an additional 37 staff, 24 of whom are needed for the organisation’s core function of complaint handling and investigation, and 13 for administrative and support roles which have arisen in recent years. The document also provided detail of further resources in the event that some or all of the legislative changes recommended by GSOC come to pass.

Discussions took place with the two departments throughout 2018 during which a further 5 additional staff were sought by GSOC to work in its newly established Protected Disclosures Unit. On 2 November 2018, the Minister for Justice and Equality confirmed in writing that sanction had been received from DPER for the full complement of 42 additional staff that GSOC sought.

GSOC immediately began to make arrangements for the recruitment of these additional staff and it is intended that all 42 will be employed as soon as practicable in 2019. In this regard, and mindful that the organisation had submitted its business case, the Public Appointments Service (PAS), on behalf of GSOC, successfully conducted a campaign in 2018 to establish panels from which GSOC will be able to recruit the additional investigations officers provided for in the sanction.

GSOC recruited a number of new staff from open PAS panels to fill vacancies within GSOC’s Administration Directorate in 2018 and we will

SECTION 9: STAFF

Section 9: Staff |

52

This circular sets out the arrangements to facilitate Government Departments and Offices in building appropriate skill and expertise levels and in supporting officers’ efforts in the area of self-development and life-long learning. By supporting staff in this way, GSOC is committed to the on-going need to develop new skills and new ways of working in order to enhance workplace performance in the organisation in addition to recognising that assisting staff's career development is a worthwhile investment.

| Section Title Here

3 Commissioners(1 Chairperson)

Director of Operations

Casework & Investigations Support (25)

Protected Disclosures Unit (5)

Director of Administration*

Corporate Services, Finance, Human Resources, ICT,

Policy, Communications & Research (18)

Legal (4)

Investigations (39)

Chart 7: Human Resource Allocation and Organisation Structure

* The Director of Administration retired before the end of the year.

53

CONCLUSION

2018 saw the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. In particular it recommended that all complaints of alleged misconduct by garda members, and civilian staff, be investigated by an expanded complaints body, referred to as the Independent Office of the Police Ombudsman (IOPO).

GSOC also got the sanction for additional staff as set out in the Business Case submitted in 2018 and by the end of the year a number of the extra 42 staff had begun to take up their posts throughout the organisation.

The Protected Disclosures Unit began its own staff expansion and was in a position to begin to deal with a backlog of investigations that had grown up during the preceding years.

A permanent office for the Cork team was also secured and the Blackpool premises was ready for occupancy by the end of the year.

The Ombudsman Commission noted the Government’s adoption of the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland on 18 December 2018 and in particular the recommendations in relation to complaint oversight. It is anticipated that 2019 and 2020 will be busy for GSOC in transitioning to a new organisation with a greater mandate.

In July 2018 the Commission was joined by Mr Patrick Sullivan who came from Washington D.C. with a lifetime experience of investigations and oversight. He brought new ideas as to structures of oversight and the need for greater communication between the gardaí and GSOC.

GSOC met with the new Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, soon after he took up his post in September 2018. It was noted that he had the experience of dealing with our sister organisation, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, since its inception in 2000. The Commission expressed its thanks for meeting so early on in his tenure and it is anticipated that the Garda Commissioner’s experience of oversight in Northern Ireland will contribute to a positive relationship with GSOC into the future.

The challenge of information sharing between the Garda Síochána and GSOC continues daily. For investigations undertaken by GSOC to progress smoothly it is imperative that any relevant information held by the garda organisation be made available promptly to investigations teams. It is important that this be done in fairness not only to members of the public but also to gardaí who are subject of complaints.

Delays or failures to provide the information lead to extending investigations which adds to the distress caused to all parties. GSOC plans to pursue this issue into 2019 with a view to reaching agreed procedures which will cut times taken for investigations and also facilitate appropriate oversight.

A continuing concern for GSOC is the failure to notify GSOC of complaints against garda members. It is the experience of GSOC that the media can provide notice of alleged misconduct to the public, and to GSOC, where no such notice has previously been made to GSOC by the garda organisation.

Gardaí investigating themselves runs the risk that the investigation is seen as neither full nor fair. This may do a disservice to the investigators but the lack of oversight on such investigations leaves the garda organisation open to challenge. It is in the interests of the gardaí to be able to confirm that they do not investigate themselves so that when a decision not to prosecute/discipline a member over alleged misconduct is made, no suggestion of cover-up is able to be generated.

This is also an issue GSOC plans to pursue in 2019, especially as new legislation is being drafted and particularly in light of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland’s recommendation that all complaints should be investigated by the new oversight body.

Section Title Here |

54

GOVERNANCEIn March 2018, the Corporate Governance Assurance Agreement between the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE) was signed by the GSOC Chairperson and the then Acting Secretary General of the Department. The Agreement sets out the broad corporate governance framework within which GSOC operates and defines key roles and responsibilities which underpin the relationship between GSOC and the DJE. It sets out the arrangements for the effective governance, funding and general administration of GSOC in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016). Any derogations or exceptions from the Code have been agreed with the Department and are laid out the in Corporate Governance Assurance Agreement.

The Ombudsman CommissionThe Ombudsman Commission is a three person commission consisting of two Commissioners and a Chairperson, one of whom must be a man and one of whom must be a woman. All members of the Ombudsman Commission must be appointed by the President following the nomination of the Government and the passage of resolutions by both houses of the Oireachtas recommending their appointment. One of the Ombudsman Commission members is appointed as Chairperson.

In 2018, the Ombudsman Commission comprised: Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring (Chairperson), Mr Kieran FitzGerald, and Mr Patrick Sullivan (Mr Sullivan took up his appointment in July 2018). The Senior Management Team (SMT) comprised Mr. Anthony Duggan, the Director of Administration (Mr Duggan retired from GSOC in November 2018); Mr. Darren Wright, the Director of Operations; Mr Garrett Croke, Deputy Director of Operations and Ms. Niamh McKeague, Head of Legal Affairs.

Meetings and Matters for Decision by the Ombudsman CommissionThe Ombudsman Commission formally meets with the SMT at least once a month, excluding the month of August, to discharge its duties (See Table A for schedule of 2018 meetings). It is

obliged to ensure compliance with statutory and administrative requirements in relation to the approval of the number, grading, and conditions of appointment of all staff. The Ombudsman Commission and its Senior Management Team met 11 times in 2018. The Ombudsman Commission makes the following types of decisions:

• Capital projects;• Delegated authority levels, financial

management policies and risk management policies;

• Approval of terms of major contracts;• Significant acquisitions, disposals and

retirement of GSOC’s assets; • Approval of annual budgets;• Assurances of compliance with statutory

and administrative requirements in relation to the approval of the number, grading, and conditions of appointment of all staff;

• Approval of Statements of Strategy, and • Production of annual reports and

accounts.

Responsibilities and ObjectivesSections 65 to 67 of the Garda Síochána Act detail the membership, terms and conditions, appointment, functions and objectives of the Ombudsman Commission. Along with its statutory functions and objectives, its responsibilities also include

• promoting the success of GSOC by leading and directing GSOC’s activities;

• providing strategic guidance to GSOC while still monitoring and supervising the discharge of any of its delegated functions;

• reviewing and guiding strategic direction, major plans of action, risk management policies and procedures, annual budgets and business plans, setting performance objectives, monitoring implementation and performance, and overseeing major capital expenditure decisions;

• acting on a fully informed and ethical basis, in good faith, with due diligence and care, and in the best interest of GSOC, subject to the objectives set by Government;

APPENDIX 1: GOVERNANCE, FINANCE AND INTERNAL CONTROLS

| Appendix 1: Governance, Finance and Internal Controls

55

Performance EvaluationThe Ombudsman Commission commenced a Self-Assessment Effectiveness and Evaluation Review in respect of its own performance in 2018 and this review will be completed in early 2019.

• promoting the development of the capacity of GSOC including the capability of its leadership and staff, and

• holding senior management to account for the effective performance of their delegated functions and responsibilities.

Table A: Dates and attendance at Commission Meetings.

Date Attendance (Commissioners / Directors / Head of Legal Affairs)

16 January 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGeraldMr Anthony Duggan

Mr Darren WrightMs Niamh McKeague

13 February 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGeraldMr Anthony Duggan

Mr Garrett CrokeMs Suzanne Hackett

13 March 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGeraldMr Anthony Duggan

Mr Darren WrightMr Thomas Flanagan

10 April 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGerald


8 May 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGerald

Mr Garrett CrokeMs Niamh McKeague

12 June 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGerald


10 July 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGeraldMr Patrick Sullivan

Mr Darren WrightMs Suzanne Hackett

11 September 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGeraldMr Patrick Sullivan


9 October 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGeraldMr Patrick Sullivan


13 November 2018 Dr Kieran FitzGeraldMr Patrick Sullivan

Mr Garrett CrokeMs Niamh McKeague

11 December 2018 Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring Dr Kieran FitzGeraldMr Patrick Sullivan

Mr Darren Wright

Appendix 1: Governance, Finance and Internal Controls |

56

FINANCEGSOC is funded through the provision of an annual grant from the Vote for the Department of Justice and Equality. The Secretary General of the Department is the Accounting Officer for GSOC. The Chairperson is responsible, in conjunction with the Accounting Officer, for preparing GSOC’s accounts.

Section 77 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 requires the Garda Ombudsman Commission to keep, in such form as may be approved by the Minister for Justice and Equality with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, all proper and usual accounts of money received and expended by it. The Commission is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, its financial position and enables it to ensure that the financial statements comply with Section 77 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

Having regard to the size of the Ombudsman Commission, it is not deemed feasible for it to establish its own Internal Audit or its own Audit & Risk Committee. Alternative arrangements, with the agreement of the Minister/Department, have been put in place to provide GSOC with access to the Department’s Internal Audit Unit and Audit & Risk Committee. The terms of reference of the Audit and Risk Committee are held by the Department of Justice and Equality.

In addition, GSOC is subject to annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and has an internal risk management process which is overseen by a Risk Management Officer and a Risk Management Monitoring Group (RMMG).

With regard to general expenditure, GSOC was required to undertake essential building maintenance work which cost €119,494 in total. Costs included urgent repair work on the air conditioning system at GSOC’s offices at 150 Upper Abbey Street, Dublin 1, in order to ensure the proper functioning of the system and prevent a potential health and safety risk occurring.

In early 2018, following an appropriate procurement process, GSOC identified suitable office accommodation at Unit 4D, The Atrium, Blackpool Retail and Office Park, Blackpool, Cork,

which fully meets the specifications required for its southern regions investigations team. Having received the necessary sanctions from both the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, GSOC has agreed a ten-year lease for this office space. Its southern region investigations team moved into the premises in late November 2018.

This new office space provides high quality accommodation for the GSOC staff assigned to the team. It is located in a modern secure premises with facilities to provide suitable interview rooms (including for victims and children) and a high standard of information, communications and networking technology which enables the team to carry out its work in a more efficient and effective manner.

The Commission is fully satisfied that this office space is the best available and most practicable option for providing a long term solution to the accommodation needs of its southern region investigations team. It also provides GSOC with an ability to enhance, and if necessary expand, its operations in the wider southern area of the country to a level not previously considered practical or feasible. This will be an important consideration for the future in terms of the planning which will be required for the major transformation which GSOC will undergo, both structurally and functionally, over the next couple of years as a result of new legislation which has been approved by the Government following the recommendations made in 2018 by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

The Ombudsman Commission ensured that GSOC fully complied with the Public Spending Code throughout 2018.

| Appendix 1: Governance, Finance and Internal Controls

57

Table C: Employee benefits breakdown:

Number of Employees

Range From-To 2018* 2017

€60,000 - €69,999 13 17

€70,000 - €79,999 11 7

€80,000 - €89,999 4 3

€90,000 - €99,999 3 2

€100,000 - €109,999 1 -

€110,000 - €119,999 - 1

€120,000 - €129,999 1 2

€130,000 - €139,999 1 1

€140,000 - €149,999 1 0

* The 2018 figures include salary, overtime allowances and other payments made on behalf of the employee but exclude employer’s PRSI.

NON-SALARY RELATED FEESIn relation to non-salary related fees paid in respect of members of the Ombudsman Commission for 2018 this figure is NIL.

KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNELTotal salaries paid to key management personnel by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission amounted to €452,647.

CONSULTANCY COSTS Consultancy costs include the cost of external advice to management and exclude outsourced ‘business-as-usual’ functions. The total cost for 2018 was €145,415.

Table B: Expenditure by GSOC in 2018.

Category Original Budget Expenditure

Salaries, Wages & Allowances €6,063,292.00 A01 - Pay & Allowances €6,066,188.35

Non-Pay €3,984,708

A02 - Travel & Subsistence €121,125.28

A03 - Incidental Expenses €803,733.79

A04 - Postal & Telecommunication Services

€131,534.78

A05 - Office Machinery & Other Office Supplies

€885,490.88

A06 - Office & Premises Expenses

€1,819,603.60

A07 - Consultancy €0

A08 - Research Expenditure €19,680

Total Non-Pay €3,781,168.33

Total Budget Allocation 2018 €10,048,000 Total Pay & Non-pay Expenditure in 2018

€9,847,356.68

Notes: • Figures quoted have not yet been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.• The table above does not include Appropriation in Aid, which was €255,725.44 in 2018.

Appendix 1: Governance, Finance and Internal Controls |

58 | Appendix 1: Governance, Finance and Internal Controls

Statement regarding the system of internal control in GSOC

On behalf of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, I hereby acknowledge our responsibility for ensuring that an effective system of internal controls is maintained and operated. This responsibility takes account of the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016).

Purpose of the System of Internal ControlThe system of internal control can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance that assets are safeguarded, transactions authorised and properly recorded, and that material errors or other irregularities are either prevented or would be detected on a timely basis. The Commission is satisfied that the systems which it has in place are reasonable and appropriate for the Commission’s circumstances having regard to its size, level of expenditure, staff resources and the nature of its operations.

Capacity to Handle RiskThe Senior Management Team (SMT) has engaged fully in the monitoring of risk and, in so far as possible having regard to the operating environment, dealing with the risks that have presented throughout 2018. The following steps have been taken to ensure an appropriate control environment:

• Decisions on expenditure rest with line managers and the members of the Commission in line with approved expenditure thresholds;

• Management responsibilities are clearly assigned and communicated between the Director of Administration, Corporate Services and the Finance Team;

• Internal reporting relationships are clearly assigned;• Payroll Shared Service Centre process payroll and travel and subsistence claims during the

accounting year. The Department of Justice and Equality also provide internal audit, fixed asset register maintenance, purchase ordering and tax filing services to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission;

• An external contractor undertakes regular reviews of controls. This process complements the audits undertaken by the Department of Justice and Equality internal audit unit;

• The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has in place robust financial procedures and in addition engaged the services of an external accounting firm.

Risk and Control FrameworkThe Commission has established processes to identify and evaluate business and financial risks by

• Identifying the nature and extent of financial risks facing the office;• Assessing the potential of identified risks occurring;• Evaluating and assessing the internal capacity of the office to manage the risks that do occur;• Examining financial risks in the context of strategic goals;• Rebuilding the Risk Management Monitoring Group in the context of recent staffing departures.

The Ombudsman Commission has in place a Strategy for Risk Management, one element of which is a Risk Management Monitoring Group (RMMG). The RMMG was established in 2016 and consists of twelve members comprising staff of various grades, including Commissioner, in order to ensure cross organisational participation and buy-in to the risk management process.

The role of the RMMG is to provide oversight to the management of risk by line managers and heads of business units, ensure the implementation of a cohesive approach to risk management throughout GSOC,

59Appendix 1: Governance, Finance and Internal Controls |

and provide assurance to Senior Management that all known risks are mitigated against. The RMMG met eight times in 2018 to review risk and update GSOC’s risk register. GSOC’s risk register identifies specific risks, details the controls and actions needed to mitigate those risks and assigns responsibility for the mitigation and operation of controls to key staff. Every month, the Ombudsman Commission reviews material risk incidents and notes or approves actions taken by staff to mitigate or manage the identified risks to a tolerable level. The principle risks identified for 2018 were:

1. Strategic Risk – Lack of resourcing2. Reputational Risk – Negative media engagement3. Operational Risk – Lack of compliance with EU General Data Protection Regulation.

Action taken throughout the year to mitigate these risks included the submission of a business case to the DJE and DPER seeking additional resourcing, engagement with the media and the roll-out of a GDPR implementation and review programme.

Monitoring and ReviewThe system of internal control is based on internal management of information, administrative procedures and a system of delegation and accountability. In particular, this involves:

• Regular review by the Commission and Corporate Services of financial information provided by the Department of Justice and Equality;

• Comprehensive budgeting with an annual budget which is reviewed regularly by senior management;

• Submission of monthly finance reports to the Director of Administration for reviews.

Mechanisms have been established for ensuring the adequacy of the security of the Commission’s information (internally within GSOC) and communication technology systems.

Incidents of Significant Control FailingsIn 2018, there has been no incidence of significant control failings.

Compliance with the Public Spending CodeThe Ombudsman Commission has procedures in place to ensure compliance with current procurement rules and guidelines as set out by the Office of Government Procurement.

Approval by the CommissionThe DJE Internal Audit Unit carried out a review of internal controls to ensure that the Ombudsman Commission has considered all aspects of risk management, ICT, internal controls and management practices for 2018 and up to the date of approval of the annual report and financial statements. The review will be signed off by the Commission and will be included for review by the external auditors when auditing of GSOC’s financial statements for 2018 takes place in 2019.

In general terms, the Commission is satisfied that the system of internal controls instituted in GSOC is adequate to provide it with sufficient assurances and that those controls are implemented and reviewed in an efficient and effective manner.

Signed:

Justice Mary Ellen Ring, Chairperson

60 | Appendix 2: Profile of People Who Complained in 2018

APPENDIX 2: PROFILE OF PEOPLE WHO COMPLAINED IN 2018

Chart 10: Nationality

American (1%)

Asian (1%)

Other (6%)

African (3%)

Polish (2%)

EU (3%)

British (4%)

Irish (80%)

80%

4%

3%2%

3%6% 1% 1%

Chart 11: Country of birth

86%

13%1%

No response (1%)

Other (13%)

Same as Nationality (86%)

Charts below illustrate the profile of people who complained to GSOC in 2018.Results are based on a survey distributed to all complainants when they submit a complaint. 23% of complainants (433) responded in 2018. All responses are anonymous.

*For the purposes of whole numbers some figures were rounded up or down

Chart 8: Gender

65%

34%

1%

No Response (1%)

Female (34%)

Male (65%)

Chart 9: Age

3%

22%

30%

21%

14%

10%

61+ (10%)

51-60 (14%)

41-50 (21%)

31-40 (30%)

18-30 (22%)

0-17 (3%)

61Appendix 2: Profile of People Who Complained in 2018 |

Chart 12: Ethnicity

85%

1%

6%2%

3%3%

Asian (3%)

Other (3%)

Traveller (2%)

Black (6%)

No Response (1%)

White (85%)

Chart 13: Language

85%

3%

6%3% 2%1%

Polish (2%)

Irish (1%)

Lithuanian (3%)

Other (6%)

No Response (3%)

English (85%)

Chart 14: Disability

73%

5%

6%

4%

7%3% 2%

Intellectual (2%)

Psychological (3%)

Other (7%)

Several Types (4%)

Physical (6%)

No Response (5%)

None (73%)

Chart 15: Religion

60%

20%

3%

11%

3% 1%1% 1%

Orthodox (1%)

Buddhist (1%)

Jewish (1%)

No Response (3%)

Other (11%)

Muslim (3%)

No Religion (20%)

Catholic (60%)

62 | Appendix 2: Profile of People Who Complained in 2018

Chart 18: Employment

39%

19%

13%

7%

6%

9%

3%5%

Trainee/Student (5%)

No response (3%)

Unavailable for work (9%)

Other (6%)

Retired (7%)

Self-employed (13%)

Unemployed (19%)

Employed (39%)

Chart 16: Housing

40%

38%

9%

5%

5%3%

Homeless (3%)

No response (5%)

Guest (5%)

Other (9%)

Renting (38%)

Owner (40%)

Chart 17: Highest Level of Education

46%

36%

6%

4%5% 2%

No formal education (2%)

Other (5%)

No response (4%)

Primary (6%)

Secondary (36%)

Third Level (46%)

63Appendix 3: Profile of Gardaí complained of in 2018 |

The charts on this page show the profile of gardaí complained of in admitted allegations in 2018 where the identity (gender and rank) of the gardaí was known.

*For the purposes of whole numbers some figures were rounded up or down.

Chart 19: Gender of members of the Garda Síochána in allegations admitted in 2018

84%

16%

Female (16%)

Male (84%)

Chart 20: Rank of members in admitted allegations in 2018

79%

11%

3%2%

5% <1%<1%

Detective Sergeant (<1%)

Detective Garda (5%)

Student/Probationer (<1%)

Chief Superintendent (<1%)

Inspector (2%)

Superintendent (3%)

Sergeant (11%)

Garda (79%)

APPENDIX 3: PROFILE OF GARDAÍ COMPLAINED OF IN 2018

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission150 Abbey Street UpperDublin 1

(01) 871 6700Lo-Call 1890 600 800(01) 814 [email protected]@gardaombudsman

COIMISIÚN OMBUDSMAN AN GHARDA SÍOCHÁNA

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2018

An tUas. Charlie Flanagan TDAn tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais 51 Faiche StiabhnaBaile Átha Cliath 2

31 Márta 2019

A Aire, a chara,

Is pléisiúr dúinn an tríú Tuarascáil Bhliantúil déag ó Choimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána a chur faoi do bhráid, rud ina gcuimsítear an tréimhse idir an 1 Eanáir agus an 31 Nollaig 2018. Cuirtear an Tuarascáil seo faoi do bhráid de réir alt 80 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005.

Is mise le meas,

An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring, Cathaoirleach

Kieran FitzGerald, Coimisinéir

Patrick Sullivan,Coimisinéir

Coimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána.

Coimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána, 150 Sráid na Mainistreach Uachtarach, Baile Átha Cliath 1, DO1 FT73Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, 150 Upper Abbey St, Dublin 1, DO1 FT73

(01) 871 6727 1890 600 800 (01) 814 7023 [email protected] www.gardaombudsman.ie

2 | Gluais Giorrúchán agus Téarmaí

Inghlacthacht Déantar gach gearán a mheas de réir na gcritéar atá leagtha amach in alt 87 den Acht chun a chinneadh cé acu is féidir nó nach féidir iad a ghlacadh go dlíthiúil lena n-imscrúdú.

Comhairle Is smachtbhanna araíonachta é sin, a bhféadfaidh Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána é a chur i bhfeidhm, as sárú ar na Rialacháin Araíonachta – is féidir comhairle fhoirmiúil nó comhairle neamhfhoirmiúil a bheith i gceist leis.

Líomhain Bristear gach gearán síos ina líomhain amháin nó i níos mó ná líomhain amháin. Tá na líomhaintí ina n-iompraíochtaí aonair a bhfuiltear ag déanamh gearáin fúthu. Mar shampla, má dúirt duine gur bhrúigh garda é agus gur úsáid sé droch-chaint, is gearán amháin é sin ag a bhfuil dhá líomhain ar leith.

AIO Oifigeach Cúnta Imscrúduithe

Airteagal 2 Luaitear in Airteagal 2 den Choinbhinsiún Eorpach um Chearta an Duine (ECHR) go gcosnófar leis an dlí an ceart atá ag gach duine chun a bheo.

Gearán Léiriú míshástachta a chuireann duine den phobal in iúl do GSOC maidir le hiompar comhalta aonair den Gharda Síochána. D’fhéadfadh líomhain amháin nó níos mó in aghaidh garda amháin nó níos mó a bheith i gceist le gearán. Déantar gach líomhain in aghaidh gach garda a mheasúnú ina n-aonar ó thaobh inghlacthachta de.

Rialacháin Choimeádta

Na Rialacháin fán Acht um Cheartas Coiriúil, 1984 (An Bhail a Chuirfear ar Dhaoine Faoi Choimeád i Stáisiúin an Gharda Síochána), 1987 – rialacháin a bhaineann le coimeád daoine i stáisiúin Ghardaí. Is féidir iad a léamh ag: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1987/si/119/made/en/print.

Rialacháin Araíonachta

Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, arna leasú. Is féidir iad a léamh ag: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2007/si/214/made/en/print.

Gníomh Araíonachta

Smachtbhanna a fhéadfaidh Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána a chur i bhfeidhm tar éis imscrúdaithe. Is ann do dhá leibhéal gnímh dá bhforáiltear leis na Rialacháin Araíonachta. Baineann siad le sáruithe nach bhfuil tromchúiseach agus le sáruithe tromchúiseacha araíonachta faoi seach.

DOp Stiúrthóir Oibríochtaí

DDOp Leas-Stiúrthóir Oibríochtaí

DLP Teagmhálaí Ainmnithe faoi na treoirlínte dar teideal “Tús Áite do Leanaí – Treoir Náisiúnta do Chosaint agus Leas Leanaí”.

DO Oifigeach Ainmnithe

RCBÁC Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath

DPP An Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí

ECHR An Coinbhinsiún Eorpach um Chearta an Duine

GSIO Oifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána

GSOC Coimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána

IO Oifigeach Imscrúduithe

GLUAIS GIORRÚCHÁN AGUS TÉARMAÍ

3Gluais Giorrúchán agus Téarmaí |

Réiteach Neamhfhoirmiúil

Seo é an próiseas a thairgtear i gcás líomhaintí nach bhfuil tromchúiseach, drochmhúineadh, mar shampla. Is éard atá i gceist leis ná go labhraíonn cásoifigeach de chuid GSOC leis an dá pháirtí agus é mar aidhm aige tuiscint níos fearr a ghnóthú ar a ndearcthaí faoi seach agus teacht ar chomhaontú go bhfuil an ní réitithe. Foráiltear dó le halt 90 den Acht.

Imscrúdú Mura féidir gearán a réiteach go neamhfhoirmiúil, caithfear é a imscrúdú. De réir alt 98 den Acht, is é imscrúdaitheoir de chuid GSOC a imscrúdaíonn gearán ar bith a chuimsíonn líomhain go ndearnadh cion coiriúil. Is é GSIO (féach thuas) de ghnáth a imscrúdaíonn gearán a chuimsíonn líomhain de chineál araíonachta agus déanann sé amhlaidh faoi na Rialacháin Araíonachta agus de réir alt 94 den Acht. Más cuí leis an gCoimisiún Ombudsman é, féadfaidh imscrúdaitheoir de chuid GSOC maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar na himscrúduithe sin. Féadfaidh GSOC nithe neamhchoiriúla a imscrúdú freisin, ar aon dul le halt 95 den Acht.

IRM Bhunaigh an tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais an Mheicníocht Athbhreithnithe Neamhspleách i gcomhairle leis an Ard-Aighne i mí na Bealtaine 2014. Bhí sé mar fheidhm aici breithniú a dhéanamh ar líomhaintí maidir le mí-iompar nó laigí an Gharda Síochána agus líomhaintí den sórt sin á n-imscrúdú aige d’fhonn cinneadh a dhéanamh ar mhéid na gníomhaíochta breise a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag teastáil i ngach cás agus ar an dóigh a ndéanfaí an ghníomhaíocht sin.

IO Oifigeach Imscrúduithe

Airmheán Nuair a liostaítear uimhreacha in ord luacha, is é an luach airmheáin an uimhir ag lárphointe an liosta, rud a fhágann gurb ann do dhóchúlacht chothrom go bhfuil uimhir os a cionn nó faoina bun.

Comhalta i gceannas

An comhalta den Gharda Síochána atá ainmnithe mar dhuine atá freagrach as formhaoirseacht a dhéanamh ar chur i bhfeidhm na Rialachán Coimeádta maidir le daoine atá faoi choimeád sa stáisiún Gardaí. Is féidir le comhalta de chéim ar bith a bheith ar an duine sin. Is féidir an sainmhíniú dlíthiúil iomlán agus liosta de dhualgais an chomhalta i gceannas a fheiceáil in ailt 4 agus 5 de na Rialacháin Choimeádta (féach thuas).

OGP An Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais

An Coimisiún Ombudsman

An triúr Coimisinéirí de Choimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána.

As am Gearán a dhéantar níos mó ná dhá mhí dhéag tar éis an teagmhais a bhfuiltear ag déanamh gearáin faoi.

PDA An tAcht um Nochtadh Cosanta, 2014

PD/PDU Nochtadh Cosanta/an tAonad um Nochtadh Cosanta.

RTC/RTI Imbhualadh Tráchta ar Bhóithre/Teagmhas Tráchta ar Bhóithre

SIC Sain-Chomhordaitheoir Agallaimh

SIO Oifigeach Sinsearach Imscrúduithe

An tAcht Is é Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, arna leasú, an t-acht príomha lena rialaítear feidhmiú GSOC. Is féidir é a léamh ag: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2005/act/20/enacted/en/print.

4 | Clár Ábhar

COIMISIÚN OMBUDSMAN AN GHARDA SÍOCHÁNAAN 13Ú TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL

Súil Siar ar an mBliain ..................................................................................................................................... 7

Rannán 1: Gearáin agus Imscrúduithe .................................................................................................. 91.1 An Líon Ceisteanna .............................................................................................................................. 101.2 An Líon Gearán agus Líomhaintí ......................................................................................................... 10 Cairt 1: Cúinsí taobh thiar de na Gearáin a Fuarthas (An Líon Iomlán Gearán: 1,921) .............. 10 Léarscáil 1: Líomhaintí de réir Rannán an Gharda Síochána

(gan Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath a bheith ar áireamh) ..................................................11 Léarscáil 2: Líomhaintí de réir Rannán an Gharda Síochána – Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile

Átha Cliath (RCBÁC) .........................................................................................................................111.3 Cad iad na Nithe a nDéanann Daoine Gearán fúthu? ........................................................................ 12 Cairt 2: Cineálacha Líomhna i nGearáin Inghlactha (An Líon Iomlán Líomhaintí: 2,262) ........... 121.4 Inghlacthacht ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Cairt 3: Cinntí ar Inghlacthacht an Ghearáin (An Líon Iomlán Gearán: 1,921) ............................ 121.5 Líomhaintí Neamh-inghlactha ............................................................................................................ 13 Cairt 4: Cúiseanna le Neamh-inghlacthacht na Líomhaintí i nGearáin

atá Neamh-inghlactha (Líomhaintí Neamh-inghlactha: 577) ......................................... 131.6 Gearáin Inghlactha .............................................................................................................................. 13 Cairt 5: Imscrúduithe a Osclaíodh de réir Cineáil (An Líon Iomlán Gearán a Glacadh lena

nImscrúdú: 1270) .............................................................................................................. 131.6.1 Imscrúduithe Coiriúla ......................................................................................................................... 141.6.2 Imscrúduithe Araíonachta ................................................................................................................... 141.6.3 Torthaí na nImscrúduithe .................................................................................................................... 22 Tábla 1: Torthaí na ngearán a dúnadh sa bhliain 2018 .................................................................. 23 Tábla 2: Smachtbhannaí a chuir Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána i bhfeidhm

sa bhliain 2017 tar éis imscrúduithe araíonachta ........................................................... 261.6.4 An tAm a Tógadh chun Cásanna a Dhúnadh ...................................................................................... 26 Cairt 6: An t-am a tógadh chun imscrúduithe a dhúnadh (laethanta) ......................................... 27

Rannán 2: Imscrúduithe Neamhspleácha tar éis Báis nó Díobháil Thromchúiseach ........................... 282.1 Tarchuir ón nGarda Síochána faoi alt 102(1) ...................................................................................... 28 Cairt 7: Cúinsí taobh thiar de na Tarchuir ..................................................................................... 28 Cairt 8: Cineálacha Imscrúdaithe i dTarchuir (An Líon Iomlán Tarchur a Fuarthas: 38) ........... 28 Léarscáil 3: Tarchuir de réir Rannán an Gharda Síochána (gan Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile

Átha Cliath a bheith a áireamh) ........................................................................................ 30 Léarscáil 4: Tarchuir de réir Rannán an Gharda Síochána – Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath .............30 Tábla 3: Cineálacha imscrúdaithe agus na torthaí a bhí orthu (imscrúduithe ar cuireadh

tús leo tar éis tarchur agus a dúnadh sa bhliain 2018) ................................................... 31

Rannán 3: Imscrúduithe chun Leas an Phobail ................................................................................... 32

Rannán 4: An Tionscnamh Idirghabhála Áitiúla .................................................................................. 35

Rannán 5: Gníomhaíocht Dlí tar éis Imscrúduithe Coiriúla ................................................................. 39

Rannán 6: Eolas a Thabhairt do Bheartas agus Cleachtas Póilíneachta an Gharda Síochána ............. 44 Tábla 5: Moltaí a rinneadh don Gharda Síochána sa bhliain 2018 ................................................ 44

5Clár Ábhar |

Rannán 7: Nochtadh Cosanta .............................................................................................................. 49

Rannán 8: An Rialachán Ginearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí agus Rochtain ar Shonraí ..................... 50 Tábla 6: Iarrataí ar fhaisnéis a próiseáladh sa bhliain 2018 ......................................................... 50

Rannán 9: An Fhoireann ...................................................................................................................... 51 Cairt 7: Leithdháileadh Acmhainní Daonna agus Struchtúr Eagrúcháin .................................... 52

Conclúid ........................................................................................................................................ 53

Aguisín 1: Rialachas, Airgeadas agus Rialuithe Inmheánacha ............................................................ 54 Tábla A: Dátaí agus freastal ar Chruinnithe an Choimisiúin. ....................................................... 55 Tábla B: Caiteachas GSOC sa bhliain 2018. .................................................................................... 57 Tábla C: Miondealú ar shochair fostaithe:...................................................................................... 57

Aguisín 2: Próifíl na nDaoine a Rinne Gearán sa Bhliain 2018 ............................................................. 60 Cairt 8: Inscne ................................................................................................................................ 60 Cairt 9: Aois .................................................................................................................................... 60 Cairt 10: Náisiúntacht ...................................................................................................................... 60 Cairt 11: Tír bhreithe ........................................................................................................................ 60 Cairt 12: Eitneacht ............................................................................................................................ 61 Cairt 13: Teanga ............................................................................................................................... 61 Cairt 14: Míchumas .......................................................................................................................... 61 Cairt 15: Reiligiún ............................................................................................................................. 61 Cairt 16: Tithíocht ............................................................................................................................. 62 Cairt 17: An Leibhéal Oideachais is Airde ....................................................................................... 62 Cairt 18: Fostaíocht .......................................................................................................................... 62

Aguisín 3: Próifíl na nGardaí a ndearnadh gearán fúthu sa bhliain 2018 ............................................. 63 Cairt 19: Inscne na gcomhaltaí den Gharda Síochána a bhí i gceist le líomhaintí a glacadh

sa bhliain 2018................................................................................................................... 63 Cairt 20: Céim na gcomhaltaí a bhí i gceist le líomhaintí a glacadh sa bhliain 2018 .................... 63

7Súil Siar ar an mBliain |

• Ba cheart comhlacht neamhspleách nua gearáin a chur in ionad GSOC agus ba cheart don chomhlacht sin ainm nua a bheith aige, á shoiléiriú go bhfuil sé neamhspleách ar an nGarda Síochána.

• Ba cheart don chomhlacht nua teagmhais a imscrúdú in ionad daoine aonair a imscrúdú, agus béim á leagan aige ar cé acu a rinneadh nó nach ndearnadh an phóilíneacht de réir na gcaighdeán inghlactha in ionad béim a leagan ar cé acu a sháraigh nó nár sháraigh garda aonair na Rialacháin Araíonachta.

• Ba cheart na gearáin go léir faoi na póilíní a dhéanamh tríd an gcomhlacht nua gearáin, a chinnfeadh cé acu a bhí an gearán ina shaincheist bainistíochta feidhmíochta – a d’fhágfadh go dtarchuirfí é chuig an nGarda Síochána lena athbhreithniú agus lena réiteach – nó a bhí sé ina ghearán inar tarraingíodh saincheisteanna tromchúiseacha anuas faoi chaighdeáin na póilíneachta agus ionracas na bpóilíní agus a dteastódh imscrúdú neamhspleách ina leith.

• Ba cheart don chomhlacht nua na gearáin go léir ina dtarraingítear na saincheisteanna tromchúiseacha sin anuas a imscrúdú, gan dul i muinín imscrúdaitheoirí an Gharda Síochána (faoi láthair, is iad gardaí sinsearacha a imscrúdaíonn gach gearán de chineál neamhchoiriúil thar ceann GSOC), agus ba cheart go leor acmhainní a sholáthar don chomhlacht chun déanamh amhlaidh.

Chun an comhlacht nua a bhunú, bheadh sé riachtanach an reachtaíocht reatha a bhaineann le gearáin in aghaidh na bpóilíní a ollchóiriú. D’fhógair Charlie Flanagan TD, an tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais, plean cur chun feidhme don tuarascáil i mí na Nollag. Tá an obair sin le treorú ag an nGrúpa Cur Chun Feidhme um Athchóiriú na Póilíneachta, rud a gheobhaidh tacaíocht ó Oifig Cláir thiomnaithe i Roinn an Taoisigh.

Dúirt sé gur cheadaigh an Rialtas an tuarascáil agus gur aontaigh sé leis an togra uaidh glacadh leis an 157 bpríomh-mholadh go léir.

Tá GSOC ag súil le hobair i gcomhar leis an ngrúpa cur chun feidhme.

SÚIL SIAR AR AN MBLIAIN

RéamhráI dtús na bliana, bhí Coimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána (GSOC) ag ullmhú cás mionsonraithe gnó le haghaidh méadú 40 faoin gcéad sa soláthar foirne, rud a bhí ag teastáil go géar chun go mbeadh sé in ann a ualach oibre reatha a chur i gcrích agus a oibleagáidí reatha a chomhlíonadh.

Cuireadh an doiciméad isteach i gcomhthéacs na n-ábhar imní a chuir GSOC in iúl faoi leibhéil soláthar foirne na heagraíochta ón uair a tháinig sé i mbun oibre sa bhliain 2007 i leith, beagnach.

Chuaigh an gannsoláthar acmhainní a bhí ann thar na blianta chun dochar do chumas GSOC chun an tseirbhís a sholáthar agus chun na cuspóirí a socraíodh dó a chomhlíonadh. Chomh maith leis sin, bhí imní ar na Coimisinéirí faoi chumas na heagraíochta chun tabhairt faoi obair thábhachtach amhail imscrúduithe chun leas an phobail gan moilleanna do-ghlactha a chruthú ar imscrúduithe atá ar bun cheana féin a chur i gcrích.

An 2 Samhain 2018, d’fhógair Charlie Flanagan TD, an tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais, gur ceadaíodh gach ceann den 42 phost ar iarr GSOC iad. Ós rud é gur ceadaíodh cúig phost don Aonad um Nochtadh Cosanta sa bhliain 2017, bhí 138 mball foirne ag GSOC ag deireadh na bliana 2018 – an líon ab airde ball foirne a bhí aige riamh.

Bhí próiseas earcaíochta ar bun ag deireadh na bliana.

Forbairt mhór eile sa bhliain 2018 a mbeidh impleachtaí suntasacha aici do GSOC ba ea foilsiú na tuarascála ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta in Éirinn.

D’fháiltigh GSOC roimh an tuarascáil, a foilsíodh i mí Mheán Fómhair. Aithníodh inti an tábhacht a bhaineann le neamhspleáchas le linn déileáil le gearáin faoi iompar póilíní agus leagadh amach inti na hathruithe a mheasann GSOC a bheith riachtanach chun feabhas a chur ar mhuinín an phobail as formhaoirseacht póilíní. Bhí an-chuid de na moltaí ag teacht le Moladh GSOC le haghaidh Athrú Reachtach, rud a cuireadh faoi bhráid na Roinne Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais i mí na Nollag 2017.

Áiríodh na nithe seo leis na príomh-mholtaí atá ábhartha d’fhormhaoirseacht:

8 | Súil Siar ar an mBliain

PríomhfhigiúiríBaineann na figiúirí a luaitear sa tuarascáil seo le gearáin a rinne daoine den phobal le GSOC agus le tarchuir a rinne Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána chuig GSOC. Ní áirítear leo líomhaintí mí-iompair in aghaidh gardaí a bhféadfadh gur tuairiscíodh iad don Gharda Síochána nó a bhí faoi imscrúdú ag an nGarda Síochána ach nár tuairiscíodh iad do GSOC.

• Fuair GSOC 1,921 ghearán sa bhliain 2018• Bhí 2,944 líomhain ann sna gearáin sin• Tharchuir an Garda Síochána 38 ní ina bhfuil

an chuma ar an scéal “go bhféadfadh go raibh iompar comhalta den Gharda Síochána ina chúis le bás duine nó le díobháil thromchúiseach a dhéanamh do dhuine”

• Tarchuireadh 17 gcomhad chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí, rud a bhí ina chúis le 4 ordú go ndéanfaí ionchúiseamh, 9 n-ordú nach ndéanfaí ionchúiseamh, agus 4 chinneadh a bhí ar feitheamh. De bhreis air sin, d’ordaigh an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí nach ndéanfaí ionchúiseamh sa bhliain 2018 i dtaca le comhad a raibh cinneadh ina leith ar feitheamh ag deireadh na bliana 2017

• Osclaíodh 17 n-imscrúdú chun leas an phobail (na himscrúduithe sin a rinneadh in éagmais gearáin nó tarchuir ag Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána) agus dúnadh 14 cinn

• Rinne comhaltaí agus/nó fostaithe den Gharda Síochána 24 nochtadh chosanta do GSOC

• D’fhorchuir Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána 74 smachtbhanna ar ghardaí aonair de bharr gearáin a rinneadh le GSOC agus/nó imscrúduithe a rinne GSOC.

Imeachtaí SuntasachaCeapadh Patrick Sullivan ina Choimisinéir ar GSOC i mí Iúil 2018. Líon sé folúntas a cruthaíodh nuair a d’imigh Mark Toland, iar-Choimisinéir, as an eagraíocht i mí na Samhna 2017. Faoin uair a tháinig an tUas. Sullivan isteach in GSOC, bhí taithí 30 bliain aige ar fhorfheidhmiú an dlí agus ar fhormhaoirseacht an dlí sna Stáit Aontaithe. Áiríodh léi sin breis agus 20 bliain a caitheadh i Seirbhís Rúnda na Stát Aontaithe, áit a ndearna sé maoirseacht dhomhanda ina shannachán deiridh ar imscrúduithe góchumtha. Go díreach sular tháinig sé isteach in GSOC, bhí an tUas. Sullivan ar an Ardchigire Cúnta um Imscrúduithe le hOifig an Ardchigire de chuid na Gníomhaireachta um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil (EPA) sna Stáit Aontaithe. Rinne a fhoireann imscrúduithe coiriúla lenar bhain éilliú agus mí-iompar arna ndéanamh ag fostaithe de chuid EPA, calaois a bhí bainteach le mí-úsáid cistí rialtais, bagairtí ar fhostaithe agus saoráidí de chuid EPA, agus goid na maoine nó na gcistí de chuid EPA.Theistigh sé roinnt uaireanta os comhair Chomhdháil na Stát Aontaithe mar shaineolaí ábhair ar imscrúduithe éillithe agus mí-iompair.

Ceapadh Drew Harris mar Choimisinéir ar an nGarda Síochána i mí an Mheithimh agus thosaigh sé an post i mí Mheán Fómhair. Laistigh de cheithre seachtaine, thug sé a chéad chuairt ar GSOC agus bhuail sé le Coimisinéirí GSOC.

Foilsíodh an tríú tuarascáil eatramhach ón mBinse um Nochtaí Cosanta i mí Dheireadh Fómhair. Sa tuarascáil sin, luaigh an Breitheamh Onórach Peter Charleton go raibh imní air faoin araíonacht sa Gharda Síochána, ag aontú leis na hábhair imní a luaigh an Breitheamh Onórach Frederick Morris níos mó ná deich mbliana roimhe sin. Theastaigh athchóiriú ón gcóras um araíonacht an Gharda Síochána a fhorfheidhmiú chun gur cheart gardaí a gcuirtear mí-araíonacht ina leith a bheith faoi réir ceartú ag oifigigh shinsearacha “gan an gá a bheith ann le dul i muinín na struchtúr casta arb ionann iad, go bunúsach, agus triail phríobháideach ina n-úsáidtear nósanna imeachta atá cosúil lenár gcúirteanna coiriúla”.

Luaigh an Breitheamh Onórach Charleton gur cheart rialacha araíonachta an Gharda Síochána a bhreisiú le hoibleagáidí oscailte agus gur cheart cód araíonachta simplithe a agairt dá ndéanfaí sárú orthu.

9Rannán 1: Gearáin agus Imscrúduithe |

RANNÁN 1: GEARÁIN AGUS IMSCRÚDUITHE

GLAONNA

GEARÁIN

CEISTEANNA

an líon glaonna ar ár n-uimhir íosghlao, agus iad á bhfreagairt ag cásoibrithe.

3,107

!an líon gearán a osclaíodh sa bhliain 2018 – rud ar laghdú 1.4% é ar an bhfigiúr don bhliain roimhe.

an líon líomhaintí a bhí ann laistigh de na gearáin sin (toisc gur féidir go mbeidh roinnt líomhaintí éagsúla ann i ngearán amháin).

1,921 2,944

? an líon de na teagmhálacha tosaigh sin a osclaíodh mar “cheisteanna” ar dtús inár gcóras bainistíochta cásanna.A luaithe a fhaightear faisnéis dhóthanach, déantar stádas na ceiste a uasghrádú ina ghearán foirmiúil.

3,036

an céatadán de na glaonna a fuarthas ar freagraíodh dóibh laistigh de 60 soicind.

97%

an líon daoine ar buaileadh leo go pearsanta inár n-oifig phoiblí.

375

SONRAÍ BARRLÍNE

10 | Rannán 1: Gearáin agus Imscrúduithe

Cairt 1: Cúinsí taobh thiar de na Gearáin a Fuarthas (An Líon Iomlán Gearán: 1,921)

Saincheist Réadmhaoine (3%)

Faoi Choimeád Póilíneachta (3%)

Póilíneacht Oird Phoiblí (3%)

Nochtadh Faisnéise (2%)

Ní Sibhialta (2%)

Eile (19%)

Imscrúdú (15%)

Póilíneacht ar Bhóithre (13%)

Gabháil (12%)

Seirbhís do Chustaiméirí (13%)

Cuardach (Duine nó Réadmhaoin) (7%)

Teagmhas Baile (4%)

Imeachtaí Cúirte (4%)

15%

13%

12%

13%7%

4%

4%

3%

3%

3%

2%2%

19%

Ba iad seo na trí chúinse ba choitianta ba chúis le gearáin sa bhliain 2018: seoladh imscrúduithe ag gardaí; teagmhais phóilíneachta ar bhóithre, agus seirbhís na ngardaí do chustaiméirí.

Léirítear sna léarscáileanna ar an gcéad leathanach eile dáileadh geografach na líomhaintí a bhí ann i ngearáin a rinneadh in aghaidh gardaí sa bhliain 2018. Léirítear iontu na líomhaintí go léir a bhí ann sular chinn GSOC cé na líomhaintí a bhféadfaí iad a ghlacadh agus déileáil leo agus cé na líomhaintí nach bhféadfaí iad a ghlacadh ná déileáil leo. Ní áirítear leo 145 líomhain nár bunaíodh rannáin Gharda Síochána ina leith go fóill faoin 31 Nollaig 2018

Maidir leis an líon ab airde líomhaintí sa tír, taifeadadh iad in aghaidh gardaí i Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath, rud a mbeifí ag súil leis de bharr an daonra agus na gníomhaíochta póilíneachta sa phríomhchathair.

Féach próifílí na ndaoine a rinne gearáin, agus próifílí na ngardaí a ndearnadh gearáin inghlactha fúthu, sna hAguisíní.

GEARÁIN Leagtar amach in ailt 83 go 101 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, arna leasú (“an tAcht”), na rialacha agus na próisis lena sainítear conas nach mór do GSOC déileáil le gearáin.

1.1 AN LÍON CEISTEANNASa bhliain 2018, thug cásoibrithe freagra ar 3,107 nglao teileafóin ar uimhir íosghlao GSOC (1890 600 800). Tugadh freagra ar 97% díobh laistigh de 60 soicind. Is ionann an líon sin agus méadú suntasach ar an 2,517 nglao a fuarthas sa bhliain 2017.

Bhuail cásoibrithe le 375 dhuine inár n-oifig phoiblí freisin.

Ar an iomlán, dhéileáil cásoibrithe le 3,036 cheist tríd an bpost, trí ríomhphost, trí fhacs agus trí chomhfhreagras ó stáisiúin Ghardaí agus ó dhaoine den phobal. Ar an gcéad dul síos, osclaítear gach teagmháil ar ár gcóras mar ‘cheist’ go dtí go bhfuil go leor faisnéise againn chun í a uasghrádú ina gearán agus chun a hinghlacthacht a mheasúnú.

1.2 AN LÍON GEARÁN AGUS LÍOMHAINTÍOsclaíodh 1,921 ghearán san iomlán sa bhliain 2018, rud ar laghdú beag (1.4%) é ar an bhfigiúr don bhliain 2017. Bhí 2,944 líomhain ann sna gearáin sin – is féidir go mbeidh roinnt líomhaintí ann i ngach gearán.

Léirítear sa laghdú sa líon líomhaintí (i bhfad níos lú ná na 4,459 líomhain a fuarthas sa bhliain 2017) an t-athrú atá tagtha ar an dóigh a bhfuil GSOC ag taifeadadh gearáin neamh-inghlactha ó go mall sa bhliain 2017 i leith.

Faoin bpróiseas roimhe, scrúdaíodh freisin na gearáin sin a bhí neamh-inghlactha agus nach raibh le himscrúdú chun a fháil amach an raibh níos mó ná líomhain amháin iontu; taifeadadh an líon sin.

Faoin bpróiseas reatha, ní scrúdaítear ach gearáin a glacadh (agus atá le himscrúdú, dá bhrí sin) chun a fháil amach cá mhéad líomhain atá iontu.

ar lean ar leathanach 12 »


Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh

192

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thiar

199

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thoir

68

173

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas

131

Ceanncheathrú an Gharda Síochána, Páirc

an Fhionnuisce41

Rannán Tráchta Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath

8

Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath

–

Cearnóg Fhearchair20

Biúró Náisiúnta an Gharda Síochána um

Inimirce3

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas-Láir 181

Ros Comáin/An Longfort

64 An Iarmhí51

An Mhí114

Lú94

An Clár72

Ciarraí86

Corcaigh Thiar62

Cathair Chorcaí140

Corcaigh Thuaidh

56

Luimneach184

Tiobraid Árann85

Port Láirge75

Loch Garman81

Cill Chainnigh/Ceatharlach

67

Cill Mhantáin45

Cill Dara80Laois/Uíbh Fhailí

81

Gaillimh114

Maigh Eo65

Sligeach/Liatroim32

Dún na nGall74

An Cabhán/Muineachán

61

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh-Láir

0-50 51-100 101-150 151-200 201-250 251-300 301-350

Léarscáil 2: Líomhaintí de réir Rannán an Gharda Síochána – Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath (RCBÁC)

Léarscáil 1: Líomhaintí de réir Rannán an Gharda Síochána (gan Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath a bheith ar áireamh)


» Ba ó Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh agus Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thiar a fuarthas an líon ab airde. Bhí siad difriúil leis na figiúirí don bhliain seo caite, nuair a fuarthas an líon ab airde ó Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas-Láir agus Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thiar sna blianta 2017 agus 2016.

Lasmuigh de Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath, ba iad Luimneach agus Cathair Chorcaí faoi seach na Rannáin ina ndearnadh an líon ab airde líomhaintí in aghaidh gardaí sa bhliain 2018.

TABHAIR FAOI DEARA: Ba mar thoradh ar athrú i bpróiseas GSOC a bhí laghdú ann sa líon iomlán líomhaintí taifeadta a d’eascair as gearáin (idir ghearáin inghlactha agus ghearáin neamh-inghlactha) sa bhliain 2018. Féach rannán 1.2 chun míniú a fháil.

1.3 CAD IAD NA NITHE A NDÉANANN DAOINE GEARÁN FÚTHU?Tríd is tríd, ní bhíonn athrú ann ó bhliain go bliain sna nithe a ndéanann daoine gearán le GSOC fúthu.

Cairt 2: Cineálacha Líomhna i ngearáin inghlactha (An Líon Iomlán Líomhaintí: 2,262)

17%

32%

11%

22%

1%1%

9%

7%

Bréagacht nó Seachantacht (1%)

Mí-úsáid mhíchuí as faisnéis (1%)

Eile (9%)

Ag fanacht le cinneadh (7%)

Mí-Úsáid Údaráis (17%)

Faillí i nDualgas (32%)

Míchúirtéis (11%)

Cion Neamh-Mharfach (22%)

Léirítear i gCairt 2 na nithe is coitianta a ndéanann daoine gearán fúthu:

• Mí-úsáid Údaráis – is iad úsáid iomarcach fornirt agus treoir chun rud éigin a measann an duine a bhfuil an gearán á dhéanamh aige nach raibh údarás ag an ngarda é a

éileamh na príomhchineálacha líomhna atá catagóirithe mar ‘mhí-úsáid údaráis’.

• Faillí i nDualgas – gnáthshamplaí ‘faillí i ndualgas’ is ea líomhaintí gur theip ar gharda gníomh a bhféadfaí a bheith ag súil leis go réasúnta a dhéanamh – mar shampla, gan glao teileafóin a chur ar ais ar dhuine ag taobh amháin den scála agus coir thromchúiseach líomhnaithe a imscrúdú mar is ceart ag an taobh eile.

• Míchúirtéis – gearáin a bhaineann leis an dóigh ar labhair nó ar chaith garda le duine.

• Cionta Neamh-Mharfacha – is líomhaintí iad sin go ndearnadh cion coiriúil atá liostaithe san Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997, agus folaíonn siad, mar shampla, ionsaí, ciapadh, agus príosúnú neamhdhleathach.

1.4 INGHLACTHACHTDéantar na gearáin go léir a fhaigheann GSOC a mheasúnú in aghaidh critéir atá liostaithe in Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, chun a dhéanamh amach an bhfuil siad inghlactha nó nach bhfuil. Má chomhlíonann siad na critéir sin, féadfaidh GSOC déileáil leo. Mura gcomhlíonann siad na critéir, measfar iad a bheith neamh-inghlactha.

Cairt 3: Cinntí ar Inghlacthacht an Ghearáin (An Líon Iomlán Gearán: 1,921)

66%

29%

4% 1%

Inghlactha/Inghlactha go Páirteach (66%)

Neamh-inghlactha (29%)

Ar Feitheamh ag Deireadh na Bliana (4%)

Tarraingíodh an Gearán siar roimh an gCinneadh (1%)

Conas a Chinnimid cé acu a Ghlacfar nó nach nGlacfar Gearán lena Imscrúdú?De réir alt 87 d’Acht 2005, féadfaimid gearán a ghlacadh más rud é:

• go ndéanann duine a dtéann an t-iompar is ábhar don ghearán i bhfeidhm


air/uirthi nó duine a fheiceann an t-iompar an gearán (nó, i gcúinsí áirithe, go ndéantar an gearán thar a c(h)eann); agus

• go mbaineann an gearán le hiompar a bheadh cothrom le cion coiriúil nó sárú ar araíonacht an Gharda Síochána ag comhalta den Gharda Síochána dá gcruthófaí é; agus

• go ndéantar an gearán laistigh de theorainn ama aon bhliana ón teagmhas is ábhar don ghearán; agus

• nach gearán suaibhreosach ná cráiteach é; agus

• nach mbaineann an gearán le hordú ginearálta ná rialú ginearálta an Gharda Síochána ag Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána; agus

• nach mbaineann an gearán le hiompar arna dhéanamh ag comhalta den Gharda Síochána nuair a bhí an comhalta as dualgas, ach amháin sa chás gur dhócha go dtarraingeodh an t-iompar líomhnaithe míchlú ar an nGarda Síochána dá gcruthófaí é.

1.5 LÍOMHAINTÍ NEAMH-INGHLACTHASa bhliain 2018, measadh 551 cheann de na gearáin a fuarthas a bheith neamh-inghlactha, ós rud é nár chomhlíon ceann ar bith de na líomhaintí istigh iontu (577 gcinn san iomlán) na critéir inghlacthachta atá leagtha amach san Acht. Léirítear sa chairt thíos na cúiseanna leis sin.

Cairt 4: Cúiseanna le Neamh-inghlacthacht na Líomhaintí i nGearáin atá Neamh-inghlactha (Líomhaintí Neamh-inghlactha: 577)

73%

14%

7%2% 3% 0% 0%

Neamh-inghlactha - níor mhí-iompar é an t-iompar a ndearnadh gearán faoi (73%)

Neamh-inghlactha - bhí an gearán as am (14%)

Neamh-inghlactha - ní raibh údarás ag an duine gearán a dhéanamh (7%)

Neamh-inghlactha - bhí an gearán suaibhreosach nó cráiteach (2%)

Neamh-inghlactha - bhí an gearán faoi rialú ginearálta agus faoi stiúir ghinearálta an Gharda Síochána (3%)

Neamh-inghlactha - ní raibh an Garda ar dualgas (<1%)

Neamh-inghlactha - níor gharda é an duine a ndearnadh gearán faoi (<1%)

Ba í an chúis ba choitianta – a líomhnaíodh 420 uair – ná nach mbeadh an t-iompar líomhnaithe ina choir ná ina shárú ar na Rialacháin Araíonachta fiú amháin dá gcruthófaí é.Ba í an dara cúis ba choitianta nár glacadh gearán lena imscrúdú ná gur lasmuigh den teorainn ama a shonraítear in alt 84 den Acht – 12 mhí tar éis dháta an iompair a ndearnadh gearán faoi – a bhí an líomhain/na líomhaintí a bhí ann sa ghearán. Sa bhliain 2018, cinneadh 78 líomhain a bheith neamh-inghlactha ar an gcúis sin. Cé go bhfuil lánrogha éigin ag GSOC maidir le gearáin a ghlacadh lasmuigh den tréimhse ama shonraithe, tá cúis phraiticiúil ann le teorainn ama sa chuid is mó de chásanna; dá mhéad ama atá imithe thart idir an teagmhas agus an gearán is amhlaidh is doilí imscrúdú éifeachtach a dhéanamh lena mbaineann fianaise a chaomhnú, finnéithe féideartha a aimsiú, agus ráitis chruinne a fháil.

1.6 GEARÁIN INGHLACTHASa bhliain 2018, fuarthas agus glacadh 1,270 gearán (a raibh líomhain inghlactha amháin ar a laghad iontu) lena n-imscrúdú. Déileáladh leo ar cheann amháin de chúig bhealach. Mionsonraítear sa chairt thíos na cineálacha imscrúdaithe a osclaíodh i 1,268 gcinn de na cásanna sin. Léirítear inti freisin dhá chás ina bhfuil cinneadh le déanamh fós ar an gcineál imscrúdaithe atá le déanamh.

Cairt 5: Imscrúduithe a Osclaíodh de réir Cineáil (An Líon Iomlán Gearán a Glacadh lena nImscrúdú: 1270)

47%

33%

11%

0%8%

1% 0%

Imscrúdú araíonachta arna dhéanamh ag an nGarda Síochána - gan mhaoirseacht (alt 94(1)) (47%)

Imscrúdú coiriúil (alt 98) (33%)

Imscrúdú araíonachta arna dhéanamh ag an nGarda Síochána - faoi mhaoirseacht (alt 94(5)) (11%)

Réiteach neamhfhoirmiúil (alt 90) (<1%)

Imscrúdú neamhchoiriúil arna dhéanamh ag GSOC (alt 95) (8%)

Scoireadh de roimh an imscrúdú a thionscnamh (1%)

Cásanna inghlactha atá ag fanacht le cineál imscrúdaithe (<1%)


Léirítear i gCairt 5 conas a déileáladh ar dtús leis na gearáin go léir a glacadh. Is féidir go dtiocfaidh athrú air sin le linn an cháis. Mar shampla, is féidir go ndéanfar imscrúdú araíonachta gan mhaoirseacht a ghéarú ina imscrúdú faoi mhaoirseacht nó ina imscrúdú neamhchoiriúil a dtabharfaidh GSOC faoi. A luaithe a imscrúdaítear na gnéithe coiriúla de ghearán, féadfar aon ghnéithe neamhchoiriúla a scrúdú agus/nó a imscrúdú ansin.

1.6.1 Imscrúduithe coiriúla Is de réir alt 98 den Acht a dhéanann GSOC imscrúduithe coiriúla. Is iad imscrúdaitheoirí de chuid GSOC é féin a imscrúdaíonn gach líomhain maidir le cionta coiriúla arna ndéanamh ag gardaí (mar shampla, ionsaí). Mar thoradh ar ghearáin a fuarthas sa bhliain 2018, osclaíodh 415 imscrúdú choiriúla.

1.6.2 Imscrúduithe araíonachtaTá ceithre bhealach ann inar féidir líomhaintí maidir le sáruithe araíonachta a láimhseáil:

• Is iad ceannfoirt de chuid an Gharda Síochána a dhéanann imscrúduithe araíonachta gan mhaoirseacht (faoi alt 94(1) den Acht) ar aon dul le Rialacháin Araíonachta an Gharda Síochána. De réir na bPrótacal atá ann idir GSOC agus an Garda Síochána, ní mór imscrúduithe gan mhaoirseacht a chur i gcrích agus tuarascáil deiridh ina leith a eisiúint chuig GSOC laistigh de 16 seachtaine. Sampla den chineál cáis a imscrúdaítear ar an mbealach sin is ea líomhain go raibh mí-úsáid údaráis ann nuair a bhí duine á g(h)abháil. Osclaíodh 598 gcás den sórt sin sa bhliain 2018.

• Is iad ceannfoirt de chuid an Gharda Síochána a dhéanann imscrúduithe araíonachta faoi mhaoirseacht (faoi alt 94(5) den Acht) freisin ach bíonn siad á maoirsiú ag imscrúdaitheoirí de chuid GSOC, a bhuaileann leis na ceannfoirt de chuid an Gharda Síochána chun plean imscrúdaithe a chomhaontú. Féadfaidh an t-imscrúdaitheoir de chuid GSOC na gníomhartha imscrúdaitheacha a threorú agus páirt a ghlacadh iontu agus ní mór tuarascálacha eatramhacha a chur ar fáil dó/di. De réir na bprótacal, ní mór imscrúduithe araíonachta faoi mhaoirseacht a chur i gcrích agus tuarascáil imscrúdaithe a chur ar fáil ina leith laistigh de 20 seachtain. Tá sé oiriúnach imscrúduithe faoi mhaoirseacht a dhéanamh i gcásanna ina ndéantar líomhaintí níos

tromchúisí maidir le faillí i ndualgas, mar shampla easpa imscrúdaithe, nó imscrúdú neamhleor, ar choir thromchúiseach a tuairiscíodh do ghardaí. Osclaíodh 135 chás den sórt sin sa bhliain 2018.

• Imscrúdú neamhchoiriúil arna dhéanamh ag GSOC (faoi alt 95 den Acht) – Is iad imscrúdaitheoirí Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána féin a fhéadfaidh tabhairt faoi chásanna áirithe nach bhfuil cionta coiriúla i gceist leo de réir dealraimh agus a bhféadfadh nithe araíonachta agus/nó nithe sistéamacha a bheith i gceist leo. Ar na samplaí den chineál sin imscrúdaithe neamhchoiriúil arna dhéanamh ag imscrúdaitheoirí de chuid GSOC bheadh imscrúduithe chun leas an phobail agus imscrúduithe araíonachta a eascraíonn as imscrúduithe coiriúla. Osclaíodh 100 cás den sórt sin sa bhliain 2018.

• Foráiltear do réiteach neamhfhoirmiúil le halt 90 den Acht. Cuirtear ar chumas an Choimisiúin Ombudsman leis féachaint le hobair leis an ngearánach agus leis an ngarda (nó leis na gardaí) a ndearnadh gearán faoi/fúithi/fúthu chun cás a réiteach go neamhfhoirmiúil. Níl sé beartaithe é a úsáid ach amháin i gcás gearáin bheaga ar leibhéal seirbhíse, agus is próiseas é atá níos giorra ná imscrúdú foirmiúil. Is próiseas deonach é agus tá toiliú an dá pháirtí ag teastáil ann. Cé nár osclaíodh ach cás réitigh neamhfhoirmiúil amháin sa bhliain 2018, b’amhlaidh, maidir le roinnt gearáin a rinneadh le GSOC agus a bhféadfadh gur measadh iad roimhe sin a bheith oiriúnach do réiteach neamhfhoirmiúil, gur déileáladh leo faoi thionscnamh nua idirghabhála áitiúla, rud a ndéantar mionchur síos air i rannán 4 den tuarascáil seo.

Achoimre ar chás

Cinneadh go ndearna garda sárú araíonachta toisc gur theip air/uirthi freagra a thabhairt ar iarraidh ar ráiteas fíoras tar éis imbhualadh tráchta ar bhóithre. Tharla an t-imbhualadh nuair nach raibh úinéir an chairr istigh sa tír. Damáistíodh an carr go dona nuair a bhuail tiománaí gan árachas é.


» D’aimsigh an tOifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána gur thóg an garda imscrúdaithe ráiteas ón mbean ach nach ndearna sé/sí aon bheart eile leis an ráiteas. D’áitigh an garda imscrúdaithe gur tarchuireadh an ní chuig an mbrainse bleachtairí lena imscrúdú tuilleadh. Dá ainneoin sin, níor aimsigh an tOifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána aon chruthúnas doiciméadach ar an atreorú sin. Is amhlaidh gur léiríodh sna taifid go bhfuair an garda imscrúdaithe 15 mheabhrúchán ar leith chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh ar an líomhain. Dá ainneoin sin, ní dhearnadh aon ghníomh ar na meabhrúcháin. Sa tuarascáil a seoladh chuig Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána, chinn GSOC go raibh dóthain fianaise ann chun a léiriú go bhféadfadh go ndearnadh sárú araíonachta agus mhol sé go ndéanfadh Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána gníomh araíonachta in aghaidh an gharda imscrúdaithe.

Aimsíodh san imscrúdú gur i láthair nuair a bhí an ráiteas á thógáil ón oifigeach imscrúduithe a bhí an dara garda a bhí mar ábhar don ghearán, cé nach raibh baint ar bith aige/aici ina dhiaidh sin leis an gcás agus nach raibh sé/sí eolach ar an easpa dul chun cinn a rinneadh. Tar éis dó an fhianaise agus na cúinsí a bhreithniú, mhol GSOC nach dtionscnófaí aon ghníomh araíonachta in aghaidh an gharda sin.

Cinneadh go ndearna an garda imscrúdaithe sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, i ndáil le cúiseamh amháin i bhfaillí i ndualgas toisc gur theip air/uirthi líomhain éignithe a imscrúdú. Gearradh fíneáil ar an ngarda.

Achoimre ar chás

Gearradh fíneáil ar gharda as caitheamh ar bhealach míchúirtéiseach le bean a chuaigh chuig stáisiún Gardaí chun go gcomhlánófaí foirm iarratais ar phas don leanbh léi.

Chuaigh an bhean chun an stáisiúin chun go ndeimhneodh comhalta den Gharda Síochána iarratas ar phas. Ba thar ceann an linbh óig léi a bhí an t-iarratas ar phas. Líonadh cuid 7 den fhoirm iarratais ar phas cheana féin. Mar sin féin, ní mór dhá chuid eile a chomhlánú i stáisiún Gardaí os comhair garda de chéim ar bith. »

Tar éis don ghearánach filleadh ar an tír, aimsíodh ar an gcarr na sonraí teagmhála de chuid garda a chuaigh chun na láithreach. Tar éis don ghearánach roinnt iarrachtaí a dhéanamh dul i dteagmháil leis an ngarda imscrúdaithe, d’éirigh leis/léi dul i dteagmháil leis an ngarda sa deireadh. »

» Chuir an garda in iúl don ghearánach gur sainaithníodh tríú páirtí a bheith ar an gcúis leis an imbhualadh tráchta ar bhóithre agus nach raibh locht ar an ngearánach. Dúirt an garda leis an ngearánach teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an gcuideachta árachais, a chuir in iúl don ghearánach go raibh ráiteas fíoras ón ngarda ag teastáil ós rud é gurb é tiománaí gan árachas a bhí freagrach as an imbhualadh. Ní íocfadh an chuideachta árachais an t-éileamh go dtí go mbeadh an ráiteas sin faighte aici.

Ba ag an am sin a thosaigh an gearánach ag streachailt le dul i dteagmháil leis an ngarda. Thug an gearánach cuid mhór glaonna agus cuairteanna ar an stáisiún Gardaí ach níor éirigh le ceann ar bith díobh. Níor thug an garda aon ghlao ar ais. Le linn an ama sin, chuaigh polasaí árachais an ghearánaigh as feidhm agus, mar thoradh ar an ráiteas neamhréitithe, méadaíodh an phréimh.

Rinne ceannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána an t-imscrúdú ar an ngearán thar ceann GSOC. Cinneadh san imscrúdú go ndearna an garda sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, i ndáil le cúiseamh amháin i bhfaillí i ndualgas – ba é comhairle an smachtbhanna a tugadh.

Achoimre ar chás

Rinne bean gearán le GSOC faoi chliseadh éigniú tuairiscithe a imscrúdú. Luaigh sí gur thug sí ráiteas do bheirt ghardaí ach nár imscrúdaíodh an tuairisc agus nach ndearnadh aon teagmháil eile léi tar éis an ráiteas a thabhairt.

Glacadh an gearán agus ainmníodh é le haghaidh imscrúdú araíonachta faoi mhaoirseacht. Ba é ceannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána, faoi mhaoirseacht ag oifigeach ainmnithe de chuid GSOC, a rinne an t-imscrúdú. »


» Rinne an bhean gearán le GSOC ansin. Cinneadh go raibh an gearán inghlactha agus ceapadh Oifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána (GSIO) chun é a imscrúdú. Rinne ceannfort a bhí ag imscrúdú an cháis thar ceann GSOC an comhalta den Gharda Síochána a bhí i gceist a chur faoi agallamh. Cinneadh go ndearna an comhalta sárú ar rialacháin araíonachta as míchúirtéis agus fuair sé/sí comhairle de réir Rialachán 10 de Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007.

Achoimre ar chás

Fuarthas gearán tar éis teach teaghlaigh a chuardach le haghaidh drugaí go moch ar maidin.

Luaigh an gearánach gur músclaíodh an teaghlach de bharr bualadh callánach ar an doras tosaigh go moch maidin amháin. Tar éis an doras a oscailt, bhí beirt fhear i ngnáthéadaí os comhair an ghearánaigh. Bhí na fir ag fiafraí de: “cá bhfuil na drugaí?” Chuaigh beirt fhear isteach sa teach agus níor fhógair siad i dtús gur comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána iad. Níor aithin an gearánach gur gardaí iad an chéad bheirt fhear agus go raibh cuardach drugaí ar siúl ach amháin nuair a tháinig beirt ghardaí faoi éide isteach sa teach.

Rinneadh cuardach sa phríomhsheomra leapa, sa chistin agus sa ghairdín. Bhí na gardaí ag fiafraí den ghearánach arís is arís eile cá raibh na drugaí. D’fhreagair an gearánach: “caithfidh gur meancóg í seo”.

Dúirt an gearánach go raibh gardaí sa teach ar feadh thart ar 15 nóiméad agus go ndúirt duine amháin díobh agus iad ag imeacht go gcaithfeadh go ndeachaigh siad isteach sa teach mícheart. Taispeánadh barántas don ghearánach agus dheimhnigh sé gurb ionann an seoladh agus an seoladh a bhí luaite ar an mbarántas.

Rinne an gearánach teagmháil leis an stáisiún Gardaí ina dhiaidh sin agus rinne sé/sí gearán le GSOC tar éis tamaill. »

» Dhiúltaigh an garda sa stáisiún don iarratas ar phas a líonadh isteach, á áitiú nach mór don bheirt tuismitheoirí bheith i láthair sa stáisiún Gardaí. D’fhéach an bhean le comhrá a dhéanamh leis an ngarda agus d’iarr sí freisin labhairt le maoirseoir an gharda. Rinne an bhean teagmháil leis an tuismitheoir eile ansin, a tháinig chun an stáisiúin Ghardaí i dteannta an linbh óig. Chomhlánaigh comhalta eile den Gharda Síochána an t-iarratas ar phas ansin gan aon deacrachtaí.

Rinneadh gearán le GSOC faoin dóigh ar chaith an comhalta den Gharda Síochána leis an mbean ar theacht isteach sa stáisiún Gardaí di. Cinneadh go raibh an gearán inghlactha agus ceapadh Oifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána (GSIO) chun é a imscrúdú. Rinne an tOifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána a bhí ag imscrúdú an ghearáin thar ceann GSOC na comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána a bhí ar dualgas ar oíche an ghearáin a chur faoi agallamh. Ina measc sin bhí an comhalta a dhiúltaigh don iarratas ar phas a shíniú, an comhalta a shínigh an t-iarratas sa deireadh, agus a maoirseoir, a bhí mar dhuine eile a labhair leis an ngearánach.

Ag deireadh an imscrúdaithe, fuair an tOifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána amach go raibh an comhalta míchúirtéiseach leis an ngearánach dáiríre agus nach raibh an ceart aige/aici nuair a d’áitigh sé/sí nach mór don bheirt tuismitheoirí bheith i láthair nuair atá cuid 9 (Deimhniú Céannachta) d’iarratas ar phas á síniú.

Cinneadh go ndearna an garda sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, i ndáil le dhá shampla míchúirtéise. Gearradh dhá fhíneáil ar an ngarda.

Achoimre ar chás

Chuaigh bean isteach san oifig phoiblí de chuid stáisiún Gardaí chun teagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre a thuairisciú do ghardaí. Bhuail sí an clog chun aird a tharraingt ach ní bhfuair sí freagra ar bith. Bhuail sí an clog an athuair agus tháinig garda chun na hoifige poiblí tamall beag ina dhiaidh sin. I dtuairim na mná, bhí an freagra a thug an garda di ionsaitheach agus mímhúinte. Chuir an dóigh ar chaith an garda léi as di agus d’fhág sí an stáisiún gan an teagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre a thuairisciú. »


• Cuireadh i leith comhalta amháin gur theip air/uirthi líomhain ionsaithe a imscrúdú. Aimsíodh san imscrúdú gur ullmhaíodh comhad ach go raibh sé faoi urchosc reachta é toisc gur cuireadh isteach é seacht mí tar éis dhéanamh an ionsaithe (is é sin le rá, ní fhéadfaí leanúint le hionchúiseamh). Cinneadh go ndearna an comhalta den Gharda Síochána sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007.

• Líomhnaíodh i líomhain eile gur theip ar chomhalta den Gharda Síochána imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar dhamáiste coiriúil a rinneadh do mhaoin an ghearánaigh. Aimsíodh san imscrúdú nár éirigh leis an ngarda aon phíosaí scannáin TCI ná aon fhinnéithe a fháil, nár ullmhaigh sé/sí comhad imscrúdaithe agus nach ndearna sé/sí taifead den teagmhas ar an gcóras PULSE. Cinneadh go ndearna an comhalta den Gharda Síochána sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007.

• Líomhnaíodh i dtríú líomhain gur theip ar gharda teagmhas eile damáiste choiriúil a imscrúdú. Aimsíodh san imscrúdú gur mhol an garda don ghearánach teagmháil a dhéanamh le cuideachta bainistíochta chun an damáiste a thuairisciú, nach ndearna sé/sí taifead ar an gcóras PULSE ná i leabhar nótaí oifigiúil garda agus nach raibh aon teagmháil eile aige/aici leis an ngearánach. Cinneadh go ndearna an garda sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007.

• Bhain ceathrú líomhain le cliseadh líomhain ionsaithe agus íde béil a imscrúdú. Thóg an garda ráiteas ón ngearánach. Mar sin féin, níor taifeadadh an ní ar an gcóras PULSE agus theip ar an ngarda comhad imscrúdaithe a ullmhú. Cinneadh go ndearna an comhalta den Gharda Síochána sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007. »

» Measadh an gearán a bheith inghlactha agus rinne ceannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána imscrúdú ar an ngearán thar ceann GSOC.

Ag teacht sna sála ar an imscrúdú, tionscnaíodh imeachtaí araíonachta in aghaidh an chomhalta den Gharda Síochána a fuair an barántas cuardaigh. Bhí an seoladh mícheart do sprioc na hoibríochta cuardaigh ag an mbarántas. Cinneadh go ndearna an garda sin sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, i ndáil le cúiseamh amháin in iompar díchréidiúnach. Tugadh rabhadh agus comhairle dó/di.

Achoimre ar chás

Cinneadh go ndearna cúigear comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána sárú araíonachta toisc gur theip orthu líomhaintí coireachta a imscrúdú agus a thaifeadadh.

Rinne duine gearán le GSOC á rá gur thuairiscigh sí roinnt teagmhas do stáisiún Gardaí ach nár imscrúdaíodh iad i gceart. Bhain na coireanna sin le ciapadh, damáiste coiriúil agus iompraíocht fhrithshóisialta thar thréimhse trí bliana.

Ghlac GSOC an gearán agus ceapadh garda sinsearach chun an t-imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar an ngearán. Mar thoradh ar chliseadh dul chun cinn a dhéanamh ar an imscrúdú agus GSOC a choinneáil ar an eolas faoi, áfach, géaraíodh an cás ina imscrúdú faoi mhaoirseacht ina dhiaidh sin. Ceapadh ceannfort eile de chuid an Gharda Síochána chun imscrúdú a dhéanamh faoi mhaoirseacht ag imscrúdaitheoir de chuid GSOC. Sainaithníodh seisear comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána a bheith ina n-ábhair don ghearán.

Seasadh leis na líomhaintí in aghaidh cúigir den seisear gardaí agus thionscain Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána imeachtaí araíonachta. »


• Bhain na líomhaintí in aghaidh cúigiú comhalta den Gharda Síochána le cliseadh imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar líomhaintí go ndearnadh ionsaí agus íde béil ar dhá dháta ar leith. Rinne na gardaí iarrachtaí na ciontóirí líomhnaithe a shainaithint i dtaca leis an dá theagmhas. Tógadh ráiteas ón ngearánach agus iarradh píosaí scannáin TCI. Ní raibh an garda in ann aon duine a chonaic na líomhaintí ionsaithe a shainaithint. Rinneadh comhad imscrúdaithe a ullmhú agus a chur faoi bhráid an Cheannfoirt. De bharr athruithe i gclár comhfhreagrais na hoifige dúiche, áfach, cailleadh roinnt taifead. Níor taifeadadh ach teagmhas ionsaithe amháin ar an gcóras PULSE. Cinneadh go ndearna an comhalta den Gharda Síochána sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007.

• Bhí séú garda ina (h)ábhar don ghearán freisin. Aimsíodh san imscrúdú a rinne GSOC gur fhreastail an comhalta sin den Gharda Síochána ar agallamh leis an ngearánach ach nach raibh aon teagmháil eile aige/aici leis an ngearánach ina dhiaidh sin. Cinneadh nach ndearna an garda sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007.

D’fhorchuir Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána smachtbhannaí ar an gcúigear comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána ar cinneadh go ndearna siad sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, i ndáil le faillí i ndualgas. Ba é ‘comhairle’ an smachtbhanna a forchuireadh.

Achoimre ar chás

Fuarthas gearán thar ceann fear éagtha tar éis imbhualadh tráchta ar bhóithre. Fuair an fear bás roinnt míonna tar éis an imbhuailte. »

» Rinne muintir an fhir gearán le GSOC á rá nár coinníodh iad ar an eolas faoi imeachtaí cúirte a bhain leis an imbhualadh tráchta agus nach bhfuair siad eolas ar thoradh na n-imeachtaí ach amháin i nuachtán áitiúil. Mar a tharla sé, caitheadh roinnt cionta amach toisc gur eisíodh toghairmeacha go déanach. Líomhain an gearánach gur míshásúil a bhí ullmhú chomhad an Stiúrthóra Ionchúiseamh Poiblí freisin.

Measadh an gearán a bheith inghlactha agus rinne ceannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána imscrúdú ar an ngearán, faoi mhaoirseacht ag GSOC. Chinn an ceannfort go ndearna garda amháin sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, i ndáil le dhá chúiseamh i bhfaillí i ndualgas toisc gur theip air/uirthi a chinntiú go bhfuarthas na toghairmeacha laistigh den teorainn ama reachtúil chun imeachtaí a thionscnamh agus toisc gur theip air/uirthi na gearánaigh a choinneáil ar an eolas faoin imscrúdú ar an teagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre. Déileáladh leis an ngarda trí bhíthin comhairle a thabhairt.

Achoimre ar chás

Fuair GSOC gearán tar éis do bhean a líomhain go bhfuair garda rochtain go míchuí ar fhaisnéis phearsanta fúithi a bhí á coinneáil ar an gcóras PULSE.

Glacadh an gearán agus d’imscrúdaigh ceannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána é, faoi mhaoirseacht ag oifigeach de chuid GSOC. Cinneadh san imscrúdú go raibh dóthain fianaise ann chun a léiriú go bhféadfadh go ndearnadh sárú araíonachta agus moladh ann go dtionscnódh Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána imeachtaí araíonachta in aghaidh an gharda as rochtain a fháil ar an bhfaisnéis phearsanta de chuid duine den phobal. »


» Dúirt an comhalta den Gharda Síochána gurbh amhlaidh, ar mhaithe le sábháilteacht an pháirtí dhíobhálaithe a chinntiú, gur iarradh cóir leighis ar an gcéad dul síos chun a fháil amach cad a bhí i mbunús na lorg. Dheimhnigh deirmeolaí comhairleach gur bhain na loirg le míchumas an aosaigh shoghonta. Chuir an lia comhairleach a fhionnachtana in iúl do na cúramóirí teaghlaigh agus cuireadh an garda ar an eolas fúthu ina dhiaidh sin. Bhí an garda sásta le fionnachtana an ospidéil agus dhún sé/sí an cás. Ní dhearna an garda teagmháil leis na cúramóirí i dtaca le fionnachtana an ospidéil.

Ba é ceannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána a rinne an t-imscrúdú ar an ngearán a rinneadh le GSOC, agus é/í faoi mhaoirseacht ag GSOC. Cinneadh ann go ndearna an garda sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, i ndáil le cúiseamh amháin i bhfaillí i ndualgas toisc gur theip air/uirthi na gearánaigh (mar atá na daoine a thug an t-aosach soghonta chun an stáisiúin Ghardaí) a choinneáil ar an eolas. Ba é comhairle an smachtbhanna a d’fhorchuir Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána.

Achoimre ar chás

Cúisíodh garda in ionsaí tar éis imscrúdú a rinne GSOC ar ghearán ó fhear a líomhain go ndearnadh ionsaí air agus é faoi choimeád ag gardaí. Cinneadh go raibh an garda neamhchiontach.

D’inis an gearánach do GSOC gurbh amhlaidh, anuas ar an ionsaí a rinneadh air, gur inis an garda dó go maífeadh sé go ndearna an gearánach ‘ionsaí air agus seile a chaitheamh air’ dá ndéanfadh seisean (an gearánach) gearán le GSOC.

Thionscain GSOC imscrúdú coiriúil agus, faoi mar atá amhlaidh i ngach imscrúdú coiriúil a dhéanann GSOC, ba iad imscrúdaitheoirí de chuid GSOC a rinne an t-imscrúdú.

D’aimsigh an t-imscrúdaitheoir nach raibh TCI i bhfeidhm sa láthair choimeádta sa stáisiún Gardaí ach gur iarradh cuntais ó na comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána a bhí i láthair ag am an ionsaithe líomhnaithe. »

» Sa tuarascáil a sheol GSOC chuig Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána, luadh go bhfuair an garda rochtain ar fhaisnéis phearsanta an ghearánaigh. Ní dhearna an garda iontrálacha leabhar nótaí inar leagadh amach na cúiseanna leis an bhfaisnéis a rochtain agus theip ar an ngarda freisin an réasúnaíocht taobh thiar den tseiceáil a iontráil sa chóras PULSE. Thug an comhalta den Gharda Síochána réasúnaíocht go cúlghabhálach. Dá ainneoin sin, ní thabharfadh sé sin údar le seiceáil eile ar an gcóras PULSE, rud a rinneadh 19 lá ina dhiaidh sin. Sainaithníodh i dtuarascáil ó GSOC go raibh fianaise ann ar dhá chúiseamh i sáruithe araíonachta as faillí i ndualgas agus cleachtas éillitheach/míchuí.

Cuireadh in iúl do GSOC ina dhiaidh sin gur cinneadh go ndearna an garda sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, as cleachtas éillitheach/míchuí toisc gur úsáid sé/sí cáil an gharda mar chomhalta den Gharda Síochána ar mhaithe leis/léi féin. Déileáladh leis an ngarda trí bhíthin foláireamh a thabhairt.

Achoimre ar chás

Rinne beirt gearán le GSOC faoin dóigh ar chaith garda leo tar éis dóibh mí-úsáid líomhnaithe ar aosach soghonta a thuairisciú.

D’inis na gearánaigh do GSOC gur thug siad an t-aosach soghonta leo chuig stáisiún Gardaí chun tuairisc a thabhairt ar a n-amhras maidir le mí-úsáid fhisiciúil a rinneadh, dar leo, i dteach cúraim. Chreid siad gur mar thoradh ar mhí-úsáid a bhí loirg ann ar chorp an duine.

Rinne an comhalta den Gharda Síochána a bhí ag déileáil leis an ngearán na loirg a scrúdú. Chuaigh sé/sí i gcomhairle le hoifigeach uachtarach agus, tar éis dó/di cúiseanna féideartha eile leis na loirg a bhreithniú, chinn sé/sí gur cheart an duine gortaithe a thabhairt chun an ospidéil. Ligeadh an duine isteach san ospidéal, ceapadh oibrí cúraim chun fanacht leis an duine, agus níor tugadh cead do na baill teaghlaigh a rinne an gearán le gardaí an duine a fheiceáil.

Bhain an gearán ó na baill teaghlaigh leis an teip a bhí ar an ngarda a ngearán a ghlacadh agus iad a choinneáil ar an eolas faoin dul chun cinn. »


Achoimre ar chás

Rinne bean gearán le GSOC faoin dóigh ar chaith roinnt gardaí léi nuair a thuairiscigh sí go ndearnadh ionsaí gnéasach uirthi. Rinneadh imscrúdú faoi mhaoirseacht – is é sin, imscrúdú ina ndéanann ceannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána imscrúdú atá faoi mhaoirseacht ag GSOC.

Rinne an bhean roinnt líomhaintí faoi na gardaí. Ina measc sin, líomhain sí gur theip orthu gníomhú go cuí agus iad ag freagairt don tuairisc a thug sí ar an ionsaí gnéasach a rinneadh uirthi agus gur chaith siad go míchúirtéiseach léi.

Áiríodh leis an imscrúdú a rinne an tOifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána (GSIO) ráitis a thógáil ó roinnt gardaí a bhí i dteagmháil leis an ngearánach, agus taifeadadh fuaime agus físe a ghlacadh d’agallamh a rinne gardaí leis an mbean a bhí ag tuairisciú go ndearnadh ionsaí gnéasach uirthi.

Sa tuarascáil deiridh a sheol sé chuig GSOC, dúirt an tOifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána nár aimsigh sé aon fhianaise á léiriú go raibh sárú araíonachta déanta ag an gceathrar comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána a bhí mar ábhar don imscrúdú.

Mhol an t-oifigeach de chuid GSOC a bhí ag maoirsiú an imscrúdaithe go dtionscnódh údaráis an Gharda Síochána imeachtaí araíonachta in aghaidh duine amháin den cheathrar gardaí. Dúirt an t-oifigeach de chuid GSOC a d’amharc ar an taifeadadh DVD den agallamh freisin gur bhris an garda isteach ar an mbean arís is arís eile, gur úsáid sé/sí teanga mhíchuí agus gur chaith sé/sí go hionsaitheach leis an ngearánach.

D’éirigh an garda ina s(h)easamh roimh dheireadh an agallaimh, á rá go raibh air/uirthi ráiteas eile a thógáil. D’fhág sé/sí an seomra ansin, cé go raibh an t-agallamh ar siúl fós.

Seoladh an tuarascáil ó GSOC chuig Aonad Gnóthaí Inmheánacha an Gharda Síochána. Moladh inti go dtionscnófaí imeachtaí araíonachta in aghaidh garda amháin. »

» Dúirt garda amháin go bhfacthas an gearánach agus é ag caitheamh go hionsaitheach leis an gcomhalta den Gharda Síochána i gceannas1. Chonacthas an gearánach ag fáil greim ar liopa an chomhalta i gceannas agus ag dúnadh a láimhe eile ina dorn agus é sa chillín. Nuair a theip ar an ngearánach stopadh, bhuail garda an gearánach le smachtín – d’imigh an bheirt chomhaltaí den Gharda Síochána as an gcillín ansin. Tharla teagmhas eile den chineál céanna don chomhalta i gceannas agus don gharda céanna ní ba mhoille an lá sin. Bhí an gearánach ag caitheamh go hionsaitheach leis an mbeirt ghardaí agus bhuail an comhalta i gceannas an gearánach ar na cosa roinnt uaireanta le smachtín.

Luadh i dtaifid leighis go ndearnadh damáiste fíocháin bhoig do rosta agus aghaidh an ghearánaigh. D’fhiafraigh an t-imscrúdaitheoir de chuid GSOC den chomhalta i gceannas ar breithníodh nó nár breithníodh an cillín a fhágáil in ionad smachtín a úsáid. Dheimhnigh an comhalta i gceannas nár breithníodh an rogha sin.

Líomhain an gearánach go raibh míchúirtéis ann sa dóigh is gur tugadh “clamhsánaí” air agus go raibh mí-úsáid údaráis ann freisin toisc gur líomhain sé gur insíodh dó go “[n]déarfainn go ndearna tú ionsaí orm dá ndéanfá gearán le GSOC”.

Shéan an comhalta i gceannas a bhí i gceist na líomhaintí sin agus ní raibh aon fhinnéithe eile ann a thacaigh leis na líomhaintí.

Mhol an t-imscrúdaitheoir de chuid GSOC go gcuirfí comhad ar aghaidh chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí ós rud é go bhféadfadh an úsáid fornirt sna cúinsí a ndearnadh cur síos orthu a bheith cothrom le hionsaí, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997. Bhí sé de rogha ag an gcomhalta i gceannas siúl siar ón ngearánach sa dara teagmhas agus an cillín a fhágáil gan an gá le forneart ar bith a úsáid ach níor roghnaigh sé/sí an rogha sin.

D’ordaigh an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí go n-ionchúiseofaí an garda – triaileadh an garda agus ba é an bhreith ná go raibh sé/sí neamhchiontach.

1 Comhalta i gceannas (‘MiC’ mar ghiorrúchán i mBéarla uaireanta) – An comhalta den Gharda Síochána atá ainmnithe mar dhuine atá freagrach as formhaoirseacht a dhéanamh ar chur i bhfeidhm na Rialachán Coimeádta maidir le daoine atá faoi choimeád sa stáisiún Gardaí. Is féidir le comhalta de chéim ar bith a bheith ar an duine sin.


» Dá ainneoin sin, theip ar roinnt iarrachtaí a rinne aturnae an pháirtí dhíobhálaithe sna míonna ina dhiaidh sin sonraí an tiománaí a fháil ó ghardaí. Roinnt míonna tar éis an teagmhais, d’inis gardaí don aturnae nach raibh aon taifead den teagmhas ann.

Sa tuarascáil ó GSOC a eisíodh tar éis an imscrúdaithe faoi mhaoirseacht ar an ngearán, luaigh an t-oifigeach imscrúduithe de chuid GSOC gurbh amhlaidh, bunaithe ar an bhfianaise, go bhféadfadh go ndearna an garda sárú araíonachta toisc gur theip air teagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre a tuairiscíodh dó a thaifeadadh ar an gcóras PULSE agus gur theip air taispeáint na ndoiciméad tiomána a taispeánadh dó a thaifeadadh ar an gcóras PULSE.

Seoladh an tuarascáil sin chuig Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána. Cuireadh in iúl do GSOC ina dhiaidh sin gur cinneadh go ndearna an garda sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, agus gur chuir Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána smachtbhanna i bhfeidhm.

Achoimre ar chás

Bhí fear ag tiomáint an treo mhíchirt síos sráid aontreo. Chuaigh garda ina threo agus chuir sé an méid sin in iúl don fhear. Bhí an tiománaí suaite faoin dóigh ar labhair an garda leis. Dúirt sé go raibh an teanga agus an tuin a úsáideadh maslaitheach agus dímheasúil. Cheartaigh sé a chúrsa ar an tsráid agus lean sé ar aghaidh.

Rinne an fear gearán le GSOC ansin. Cinneadh go raibh an gearán inghlactha agus ceapadh Oifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána (GSIO) chun é a imscrúdú. Rinne an tOifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána a bhí ag imscrúdú an cháis thar ceann GSOC agallamh a chur ar an ngarda. Nuair a ceistíodh é, d’admhaigh an garda go raibh an locht air agus nach raibh sé de cheart aige labhairt leis an bhfear ar bhealach mímhúinte neamhghairmiúil. Cinneadh go ndearna an comhalta den Gharda Síochána sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, as míchúirtéis agus fuair sé comhairle.

» Seacht mí ina dhiaidh sin, chuir údaráis an Gharda Síochána in iúl do GSOC gur cinneadh NACH ndearna an garda sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007. Cé go raibh an garda ‘lom’ sa teanga a úsáideadh, níorbh ionann an teanga agus míchúirtéis.

Dúirt an garda sinsearach a dhéileáil leis an gcás gurbh amhlaidh, ina thuairim, nach raibh an garda (a ndearnadh gearán faoi/fúithi) míchúirtéiseach ó thaobh sárú ar na rialacháin de.

Achoimre ar chás

Cinneadh go ndearna garda sárú araíonachta as faillí i ndualgas toisc gur theip air/uirthi sonraí faoi theagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre a thaifeadadh ar an gcóras PULSE.

Dá bharr sin, bhí moilleanna ann ar na sonraí a bhí ag teastáil le haghaidh éileamh árachais a dhéanamh a bheith á bhfáil ag ionadaí dlíthiúil an pháirtí dhíobhálaithe.

Rinne an páirtí díobhálaithe gearán leis an nGarda Síochána faoin dóigh ar chaith gardaí leis tar éis dó an teagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre a thuairisciú.

Tharchuir gardaí an gearán chuig GSOC faoi alt 85 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, agus thosaigh GSOC imscrúdú faoi mhaoirseacht – is é sin, ceapadh garda sinsearach chun imscrúdú a dhéanamh agus bhí maoirseacht ar an imscrúdú le déanamh ag oifigeach imscrúduithe de chuid GSOC.

D’eascair an gearán as teagmhas ar gortaíodh duine ann. D’imigh tiománaí an chairr a bhuail an gearánach as an láthair agus chuaigh an páirtí díobhálaithe, a fuair cóireáil ospidéil an lá sin, chuig stáisiún Gardaí an lá dár gcionn chun an teagmhas a thuairisciú.

D’inis an páirtí díobhálaithe do GSOC go bhfuair sé glao teileafóin ó gharda cúpla lá tar éis dó an teagmhas a thuairisciú. Dúirt an garda go raibh ainm an tiománaí ar eolas ag na gardaí agus go mbeadh siad ag iniúchadh an ní le cuideachta árachais an tiománaí. »


Achoimre ar chás

Cuireadh smacht ar gharda as faillí i ndualgas toisc gur theip air/uirthi cuardach a rinneadh ar fhear in áit phoiblí a thaifeadadh i gceart.

Rinne an fear a bhí i gceist gearán le GSOC. Dúirt sé go raibh sé den tuairim nach raibh aon bhunús ann leis an gcuardach. Dúirt sé freisin gur ghoill an cuardach sin in áit phoiblí go mór air. Níor aimsíodh rud ar bith sa chuardach.

Ceapadh Oifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána (GSIO) chun an ní a imscrúdú. Cinneadh go ndearna an garda a rinne an cuardach sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, as faillí i ndualgas toisc gur theip air/uirthi an cuardach a thaifeadadh i gceart.

Achoimre ar chás

Rinneadh gearán thar ceann leanbh a gortaíodh i dteagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre. Ba é an gearán ná gur theip ar gharda an teagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre a imscrúdú i gceart. Leag an gearánach amach nár thóg an garda imscrúdaithe ráiteas ón leanbh, cé go ndeachaigh na míonna thart ón teagmhas agus gur tugadh lear glaonna teileafóin ar an ngarda. Nuair a tógadh ráiteas ar deireadh thiar – breis agus cúig mhí tar éis an teagmhais – níorbh eol don gharda sonraí tábhachtacha faoin teagmhas, amhail céannacht na bhfinnéithe, ar nithe iad a raibh ar an ngearánach iad a thabhairt.

Sa deireadh, níor ionchúisíodh an tiománaí a bhí páirteach sa teagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre.

Chinn GSOC go raibh an gearán inghlactha agus ceapadh Oifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána (GSIO) chun é a imscrúdú. Chinn an tOifigeach Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána go ndearna an comhalta den Gharda Síochána sárú ar Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht), 2007, i ndáil le trí chúiseamh i bhfaillí i ndualgas. Bhain ceann amháin le cliseadh an teagmhas a imscrúdú, bhain ceann eile le cliseadh an t-íospartach a choinneáil ar an eolas, agus bhain an ceann eile le cliseadh freagra a thabhairt do chomhfhreagras ó cheannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána faoin teagmhas tráchta ar bhóithre. »

» Ghlac an garda le freagracht as na sáruithe. D’fhorchuir Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána pionós airgid ar an ngarda.

1.6.3 Torthaí na nImscrúduitheDúnadh 1,897 ngearán (ina raibh 3,949 líomhain) sa bhliain 2018.

Díobh sin, rinneadh 1,352 ghearán ina raibh 3,370 líomhain a ghlacadh agus a imscrúdú (dúnadh an chuid eile tar éis iad a mheas a bheith neamh-inghlactha nó tar éis iad a tharraingt siar).

Cé go raibh líomhain inghlactha amháin nó níos mó ann sa 1,352 ghearán go léir, ba neamh-inghlactha a bhí 132 cheann de na líomhaintí a bhí istigh iontu. Níor imscrúdaíodh na líomhaintí sin, mar sin de. San iomlán, imscrúdaíodh 3,238 líomhain agus déantar cur síos ar na torthaí i dTábla 1 ar an gcéad leathanach eile.


Tábla 1: Torthaí na ngearán a dúnadh sa bhliain 2018

Scoireadh de - Ní raibh gá le himscrúdú eile nó ní raibh imscrúdú eile indéanta le réasún

Is é an cás is coitianta anseo ná go scoirtear d’imscrúdú toisc nach bhfuil aon fhianaise neamhspleách ann lena gcruthaítear líomhain.

Gach cineál 2,104

Níor sainaithníodh aon sárú ar na Rialacháin Araíonachta

Imscrúdaíodh na líomhaintí agus aimsíodh gur mar ba cheart a ghníomhaigh an garda a ndearnadh gearán faoina iompar.

Imscrúdú araíonachta arna dhéanamh ag an nGarda Síochána (alt 94) nó ag GSOC (alt 95)

549

Tarraingíodh an líomhain siar

Chuir an duine a rinne an gearán a c(h)inneadh in iúl nach saothródh sé/sí é.

Gach cineál 232

Níor chomhoibrigh an gearánach

Theip ar an ngearánach obair i gcomhar leis an imscrúdú.

Gach cineál 151

Sainaithníodh sárú ar Rialacháin Araíonachta agus cuireadh smachtbhanna i bhfeidhm

Féadfar roinnt smachtbhannaí a chur i bhfeidhm, ag brath ar a thromchúisí atá an sárú a aimsíodh (féach an Tábla 2).Ábhar do Choimisinéir an Gharda Síochána faoi na Rialacháin Araíonachta is ea an sárú ar leith agus aon smachtbhanna atá le cur i bhfeidhm a shainaithint. Níl ról ar bith ag GSOC sa phróiseas sin.


74

Níor sainaithníodh aon mhí-iompraíocht tar éis imscrúdú coiriúil

Is é an cás is coitianta anseo ná nach bhfuil aon fhianaise neamhspleách ann lena gcruthaítear an líomhain/na líomhaintí a rinneadh.

Imscrúdú coiriúil arna dhéanamh ag GSOC (alt 98)

99

Níl feidhm ag Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána a thuilleadh

Chuaigh an garda is ábhar d’imscrúdú araíonachta ar scor nó d’éirigh sé as roimh an imscrúdú nó lena linn.


14

Tarchuireadh chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí é – Níor Ordaíodh Ionchúiseamh

Má tá fianaise ann go bhféadfadh go ndearnadh cion tar éis imscrúdú coiriúil, tarchuirfear an cás chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí, a dhéanfaidh an cinneadh ar ionchúiseamh a dhéanamh nó gan ionchúiseamh a dhéanamh. I gcásanna áirithe, is féidir go ndéanfaidh an Coimisiún Ombudsman cás a tharchur chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí chun trédhearcacht iomlán agus muinín an phobail a chinntiú. (Féach tuilleadh sonraí i Rannán 5)


13

Tarchuireadh chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí é – Ordaíodh Ionchúiseamh

Mar atá luaite thuas, féadfaidh an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí a chinneadh, bunaithe ar an bhfianaise, go n-ordóidh sé/sí ionchúiseamh agus cuirfear tús le triail (Féach tuilleadh sonraí i Rannán 5).


2*

IOMLÁN NA dTORTHAÍ 3238

* Is é atá san fhigiúr seo ná tagairt don líon comhad, a d’eascair as gearáin, a seoladh chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí agus ar ina leith a d’ordaigh an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí ionchúiseamh. Is féidir nár cuireadh an triail ar siúl sa bhliain 2018.

2 Imscrúduithe faoi mhaoirseacht nó imscrúduithe gan mhaoirseacht.


Cásanna a Scoirtear Díobh Scoireann GSOC de líon ard imscrúduithe gach bliain ar chúiseanna éagsúla. Uaireanta, scoirtear de chásanna toisc go gcinneann gearánach gan comhoibriú nó toisc go n-aimsítear i scrúdú tosaigh nach bhfuil fiúntas ag baint leis an ngearán. In amanna, déantar méid suntasach oibre trí ráitis a thógáil agus finnéithe a chur faoi agallamh ach níl aon fhianaise neamhspleách ann lena ndéanfaí an líomhain a chruthú nó a bhréagnú. Scoirtear de chásanna nuair a thagann sé chun solais nach bhfuil gá le himscrúdú eile nó nach bhfuil imscrúdú eile indéanta le réasún.

Áiríodh na himscrúduithe seo leis na himscrúduithe ar scoireadh díobh sa bhliain 2018:

Thug tiománaí tacsaí glao ar na gardaí, á rá go ndearna paisinéir, a shainaithin é féin mar gharda, ionsaí air. Chuaigh gardaí chun na láithreach agus thug siad ráitis ina dhiaidh sin á dheimhniú go bhfaca siad achrann idir an tiománaí tacsaí agus duine a sainaithníodh a bheith ina chomhalta den Gharda Síochána. Dúirt finnéithe ar gardaí iad go raibh an garda ar meisce.

Chuir an Garda Síochána an ní ar aghaidh chuig GSOC agus thoiligh an tiománaí tacsaí le himscrúdú a bheith á dhéanamh ag GSOC.

Chuir GSOC tús le himscrúdú faoi alt 98 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, toisc go bhféadfadh gurbh ionann agus cionta coiriúla na líomhaintí a leagadh amach sa ghearán.

Tógadh ráitis ón tiománaí tacsaí agus ó na gardaí a tháinig chun na láithreach. Dúirt an tiománaí go ndeachaigh an paisinéir isteach ina thacsaí agus gur iarr an paisinéir air an méadar a chur as. Tar éis don tiománaí a rá go mbeadh sé ag briseadh an dlí dá gcuirfeadh sé an méadar as, rinne an paisinéir ionsaí air. »

» Thug an tiománaí tacsaí glao ar 999. D’fhreagair gardaí agus, ar an láthair a bhaint amach dóibh, chonaic siad an paisinéir agus an tiománaí taobh amuigh den charr. Bhí an paisinéir, a sainaithníodh a bheith ina gharda, ar meisce.

Bhíothas ag leanúint le himscrúdú GSOC go dtí gur inis an tiománaí tacsaí don imscrúdaitheoir de chuid GSOC nach raibh sé ag iarraidh an ní a shaothrú.

De bharr a tharraingthe siar, tugadh an t-imscrúdú coiriúil de chuid GSOC chun deiridh, is é sin le rá gur scoireadh de.

Chuaigh údaráis an Gharda Síochána i dteagmháil le GSOC agus, ag deireadh na bliana 2018, bhí údaráis an Gharda Síochána ag breithniú cé acu a thionscnódh nó nach dtionscnódh siad gníomh araíonachta.

Achoimre ar chás

Rinne duine gearán le GSOC á rá gur sheiceáil garda na sonraí de chuid tríú páirtí ar an gcóras PULSE agus gur chomhroinn sé/sí sonraí faoi thaifead an tríú páirtí ar bhealach a chuaigh chun dochar don ghearánach.

Dúirt an gearánach go raibh sé i gcomhluadar roinnt daoine nuair a tháinig an grúpa ar gharda, a thóg sonraí an ghearánaigh agus na sonraí de chuid duine amháin de na daoine eile.

Dúirt an gearánach gur sheiceáil an garda sonraí an duine eile ar an gcóras PULSE agus gur inis an garda do dhuine eile NACH garda é/í go bhfuil taifead coiriúil ag an duine sin. Líomhain an gearánach go ndearna an duine ar thug an garda an fhaisnéis sin dó/di an fhaisnéis a chomhroinnt le duine éigin eile.

Dúirt an gearánach gur thug roinnt ball dá theaghlach a gcúl dó toisc gur chomhroinn an garda an fhaisnéis sin le daoine eile. »


» Chinn an t-imscrúdaitheoir nár nochtadh aon chionta sna píosaí scannáin TCI. Chinn GSOC freisin gur chaith na gardaí ‘go foighneach agus go cothrom’ leis an ngearánach agus nach raibh aon fhianaise ann ar mhíchúirtéis ar thaobh na ngardaí.

Scoireadh den imscrúdú.

Achoimre ar chás

D’inis duine do GSOC go raibh sé ag seoladh ‘taispeántas oideachasúil’ in áit phoiblí nuair a d’inis garda dó go ndearnadh gearáin faoin ábhar a bhí á thaispeáint go poiblí aigesean agus ag daoine eile. D’inis an gearánach do GSOC go ndúirt an garda leis comhartha a thabhairt anuas. Dhiúltaigh sé do dhéanamh amhlaidh, á rá go raibh an ceart aigesean agus ag daoine eile chun bheith ann.

Dúirt sé gur tharraing an garda an comhartha síos é féin agus gur ‘bhrúigh sé comhghleacaí’ de chuid an ghearánaigh ansin. D’inis an gearánach do GSOC go ndearnadh damáiste do mhaoin lena linn (le linn ghníomh an gharda) agus chreid an gearánach gur thaispeáin an garda claonadh in aghaidh thuairimí an ghearánaigh agus thuairimí a chomhghleacaithe.

Chuir GSOC tús le himscrúdú faoi alt 98 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005 (is é sin, imscrúdú coiriúil), toisc gur maíodh sa líomhain a leagadh amach go bhféadfadh go ndearnadh ionsaí agus mí-úsáid údaráis.

Thug an duine ar líomhain an gearánach gur bhrúigh an garda é gearán le GSOC agus dúirt sé gur mheirgí grafacha iad. Dúirt an finné sin nach raibh gearán á dhéanamh aige - bhí sé ar dhuine de na hagóideoirí ach ní raibh sé ag iarraidh ach ráiteas a thabhairt ar an rud a tharla. Toisc gur dhiúltaigh sé do ghearán a dhéanamh, moladh go scoirfí den ní agus dúnadh an cás.

» Chuir GSOC tús le himscrúdú coiriúil ar an ní – ainmníodh é mar ní coiriúil toisc go bhféadfadh, dá gcruthófaí an líomhain a leagadh amach, go measfaí í a bheith ina sárú tromchúiseach gan údar ar an gceart chun príobháideachta atá ag duine. D’fhéadfadh gurbh ionann é sin agus sárú ar alt 62 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, arna leasú. (Cuirtear cosc ar ghardaí, ar bhaill foirne is sibhialtaigh agus ar chonraitheoirí le halt 62 faisnéis a fuarthas le linn a ndualgais a chomhlíonadh a nochtadh más eol don duine gur dócha go mbeidh drochéifeacht ag baint le nochtadh na faisnéise sin).

Tharraing an gearánach an gearán siar tamall beag tar éis thús an imscrúdaithe. Scoireadh den imscrúdú de chuid GSOC ansin.

Achoimre ar chás

Rinne duine ar iarradh air áit phoiblí a fhágáil gearán le GSOC faoin dóigh ar bhain gardaí den áit é.

Chuir baill foirne óstáin fios ar na gardaí tar éis do roinnt aíonna gearán a dhéanamh faoi iompraíocht an fhir. D’iarr gardaí ar an bhfear an t-óstán a fhágáil agus tionlacadh amach as an bhfoirgneamh é ar deireadh thiar.

Rinne an fear gearán le GSOC agus ainmníodh an t-imscrúdú a bheith ina imscrúdú faoi alt 98 (is é sin, imscrúdú coiriúil), mar thoradh ar an úsáid líomhnaithe fornirt ag gardaí. Luaigh an gearánach sa ráiteas uaidh gur ‘leagadh lámh air’ chun é a thabhairt amach as an óstán – bhí sé míshásta freisin leis an dóigh ar labhair na gardaí leis.

Fuair GSOC ráitis ó bhaill foirne an óstáin, a dúirt go ndearna roinnt aíonna gearán faoi iompraíocht an fhir i limistéar an bheáir. D’amharc GSOC ar phíosaí scannáin TCI freisin. »


Athbhreithnithe ar Imscrúduithe AraíonachtaMá tá gearánach míshásta leis an toradh ar imscrúdú gan mhaoirseacht a rinne ceannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána, foráiltear le halt 94(10) den Acht go bhféadfaidh sé a iarraidh go ndéanfadh oifigeach de chuid GSOC athbhreithniú ar an ní. Is é an ról atá ag GSOC sna hathbhreithnithe sin a fháil amach an raibh an t-imscrúdú cuimsitheach go leor agus an raibh an toradh cuí air.

Níl an chumhacht ag GSOC cinneadh nua a chur in ionad an chinnidh nó an toraidh. Tugann GSOC tuarascáil do Choimisinéir an Gharda Síochána i gcásanna ina dtagann ábhair imní chun cinn faoin dóigh a ndearnadh imscrúdú agus/nó faoin dóigh ar thángthas ar thoradh an imscrúdaithe. Ós rud é gur cuireadh an próiseas araíonachta i gcrích sna cásanna sin, ní fhéadfar an cás a athoscailt ná an toradh a athrú. Táthar dóchasach go gcuirfidh an t-aiseolas le laghdú ar shaincheisteanna den chineál céanna in imscrúduithe sa todhchaí.

Fuair GSOC 55 iarraidh ar athbhreithniú sa bhliain 2018 (i dtaca le himscrúduithe a cuireadh i gcrích sa bhliain 2018 nó i mblianta eile). Díobh sin, cuireadh 50 ceann i gcrích faoi dheireadh na bliana agus bhí 5 cinn ar oscailt fós.

SmachtbhannaíI gcás gurb amhlaidh in imscrúdú a dhéanann an Garda Síochána faoi alt 94 (imscrúdú faoi mhaoirseacht nó imscrúdú gan mhaoirseacht) nó in imscrúdú a dhéanann GSOC faoi alt 95 go n-aimsítear fianaise á léiriú go bhféadfadh go ndearna garda sárú ar na Rialacháin Araíonachta, déanann an Garda Síochána cinneadh ar cé acu a rinneadh nó nach ndearnadh sárú. Féadfar roinnt smachtbhannaí a chur i bhfeidhm, ag brath ar a thromchúisí atá an sárú a aimsíodh. Tá sé faoi Choimisinéir an Gharda Síochána aon smachtbhannaí a chur i bhfeidhm. Is leagtha amach i dTábla 2 atá na smachtbhannaí a cuireadh i bhfeidhm sa bhliain 2018 tar éis cinntí go ndearnadh sárú araíonachta.

Tábla 2: Smachtbhannaí a chuir Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána i bhfeidhm sa bhliain 2017 tar éis imscrúduithe araíonachta

Tugadh comhairle 36

Smachtbhanna Líon

Gearradh fíneáil 9

Tugadh foláireamh 6

Tugadh rabhadh 10

Tugadh iomardú 3

Rinneadh laghdú i bpá nár mhó ná pá dhá sheachtain

8

Rinneadh laghdú i bpá nár mhó ná pá ceithre seachtaine

2

IOMLÁN NA SMACHTBHANNAÍ 74

Mar aon leis na torthaí thuas, ar thorthaí iad a bhain le hiompar gardaí aonair, tarraingíodh aird in imscrúduithe áirithe ar chásanna ina bhféadfadh gur eascair an fhadhb as saincheist shistéamach nó bhainistíochta, seachas iompar duine aonair. D’fhonn an líon gearán den chineál sin a thiocfadh aníos sa todhchaí a laghdú, nó d’fhonn deireadh a chur leo, seoladh chuig Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána roinnt moltaí i dtaca le beartais agus/nó le cleachtais – féach rannán 6 chun sonraí a fháil.

1.6.4 An tAm a Tógadh chun Cásanna a DhúnadhSa bhliain 2018, laghdaigh GSOC an t-am a thóg sé chun cásanna a dhúnadh i roinnt imscrúduithe. In imscrúduithe eile, áfach, go háirithe imscrúduithe coiriúla agus réitigh neamhfhoirmiúla, bhí méadú ann san am a thóg sé. Tá seans ann go bhfuil tosca amhail castacht na gcásanna nó acmhainní laistigh de GSOC taobh thiar den am méadaithe a bhíothas ag tógáil chun imscrúduithe a dhúnadh. Tá GSOC tiomanta d’fheabhas a chur ar an am a thógann sé chun imscrúduithe a dhúnadh/a chur i gcrích. Léirítear i gCairt 6 an t-am airmheánach a tógadh chun cásanna a dhúnadh de réir a gcineáil faoi dheireadh na bliana 2018.

Imscrúduithe CoiriúlaAg deireadh na bliana 2018, ba é 147 lá an t-am airmheánach a tógadh chun imscrúduithe coiriúla


Imscrúduithe Araíonachta faoi MhaoirseachtIs iad Oifigigh Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána, faoi mhaoirseacht ag oifigigh imscrúduithe de chuid GSOC, a dhéanann imscrúduithe araíonachta faoi mhaoirseacht. De réir na bPrótacal, ní mór imscrúduithe araíonachta faoi mhaoirseacht a chur i gcrích agus tuarascáil imscrúdaithe a chur ar fáil ina leith laistigh de 20 seachtain/140 lá. Ba é 281 lá fad airmheánach na n-imscrúduithe sin sa bhliain 2018, rud ar méadú 8 lá é ar an bhfigiúr don bhliain 2017.

Imscrúdú Neamhchoiriúil arna dhéanamh ag GSOCFaoi alt 95 den Acht, féadfaidh imscrúdaitheoirí Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána é féin tabhairt faoi imscrúduithe neamhchoiriúla arna ndéanamh ag GSOC. Ba é 253 lá fad airmheánach na n-imscrúduithe sin. Is méadú 50 lá é sin ar an bhfigiúr don bhliain 2017.

a dhúnadh. B’ionann an figiúr sin agus méadú ar an bhfigiúr 32 lá don bhliain 2017.

Bíonn imscrúduithe coiriúla faoi réir próiseas athbhreithnithe, rud a bhfuil bearta caighdeánacha rialaithe i gceist leis. Mar chuid den phróiseas sin, déanann Oifigigh Shinsearacha Imscrúduithe athbhreithniú foirmiúil ar chásanna atá ar oscailt ar feadh 60 lá agus déanann an Leas-Stiúrthóir Oibríochtaí athbhreithniú foirmiúil ar chásanna atá ar oscailt ar feadh 90 lá. Cuirtear cásanna atá ar oscailt ar feadh 120 lá faoi bhráid an Stiúrthóra Oibríochtaí le haghaidh cinntí cuí. Ag an am céanna, tá cásanna a gcatagóirítear go bhfuil líomhain an-tromchúiseach i gceist iontu ina n-ábhar d’athbhreithniú a dhéanann an Stiúrthóir Oibríochtaí agus an Coimisiún Ombudsman gach dhá mhí.

Imscrúduithe Araíonachta gan MhaoirseachtIs iad Oifigigh Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána (GSIOnna) a dhéanann imscrúduithe araíonachta gan mhaoirseacht. Ba é 268 lá fad airmheánach na n-imscrúduithe sin ag deireadh na bliana 2018. Ba mhéadú é sin ar an bhfigiúr 256 lá don bhliain 2017. Go dtí an bhliain 2018, bhí feabhas leantach ann a d’fhág go bhfuil laghdú dhá mhí, beagnach, tagtha ar an bhfad airmheánach le roinnt blianta anuas.

Cairt 6: An t-am a tógadh chun imscrúduithe a dhúnadh (laethanta)

2015

2014

2013

2016

2017

2018

Imscrúdú coiriúil (alt 98)

Réiteach neamhfhoirmiúil*

(alt 90)

Imscrúdú araíonachta arna dhéanamh ag an

nGarda Síochána - gan mhaoirseacht

(alt 94(1))

Imscrúdú araíonachta arna dhéanamh ag an

nGarda Síochána - faoi mhaoirseacht

(alt 94(5))

Imscrúdú neamhchoiriúil

arna dhéanamh ag GSOC

(alt 95)

Days

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

155

112 101 99115

96 103

147147

308 309279

266 268256

389

244

293

250273 281

298

362

428

260 253

203

104101

* Ós rud é nár osclaíodh ach cás nua réitigh neamhfhoirmiúil amháin sa bhliain 2018, ní féidir aon ‘mheán’ fiúntach a thabhairt

28

RANNÁN 2: IMSCRÚDUITHE NEAMHSPLEÁCHA TAR ÉIS BÁIS NÓ DÍOBHÁIL THROMCHÚISEACH

2.1 TARCHUIR ÓN NGARDA SÍOCHÁNA FAOI ALT 102(1)Foráiltear don méid seo a leanas le halt 102(1) d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005: “Tarchuirfidh Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána chuig an gCoimisiún Ombudsman aon ní a fheictear do Choimisinéir an Gharda Síochána a léiriú go bhféadfadh go raibh iompar comhalta den Gharda Síochána ina chúis le bás duine nó le dochar tromchúiseach a dhéanamh do dhuine” [aistriúchán neamhoifigiúil].

Fuair GSOC 38 dtarchur sa bhliain 2018, i gcomparáid le 24 tharchur sa bhliain 2017 agus 51 tarchur sa bhliain 2016. Is é Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána a thugann an chumhacht chun tarchur do cheannfoirt, a bhfuil freagracht orthu as a chinneadh an bhfuil nó nach bhfuil sé cuí teagmhas a tharchur chun gur féidir imscrúdú neamhspleách a dhéanamh air.

Cairt 7: Cúinsí taobh thiar de na Tarchuir

24%

40%

26%

5%5%

Díobháil/Tinneas le linn Gabhála/Dul sa Tóir/Tréimhse faoi Choimeád (24%)

Teagmhais Tráchta ar Bhóithre (Marfach/Neamh-Mharfach) (40%)

Bás (Teagmhais nach Teagmhais Tráchta ar Bhóithre iad) (26%)

Scaoileadh Arm Tine (5%)

Eile (5%)

An Dóigh a nImscrúdaíonn GSOC Nithe faoi alt 102 A luaithe a fhaigheann GSOC tarchur ón nGarda Síochána, ní mór dúinn imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar an ní.

Féachaimid le freagairt go comhréireach don ní. Tar éis scrúdú tosaigh a dhéanamh, tarlaíonn sé ó am go chéile go mbíonn sé soiléir nach bhfuil aon fhianaise ar mhí-iompraíocht ná ar choiriúlacht ar thaobh garda. Ag an taobh eile den scála, bíonn sé cuí imscrúdú coiriúil iomlán a dhéanamh uaireanta agus an cás a tharchur chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí.

Cairt 8: Cineálacha Imscrúdaithe i dTarchuir (An Líon Iomlán Tarchur a Fuarthas: 38)

29%

16%

55%

Réamhscrúdú (29%)

Imscrúdú Neamhchoiriúil arna dhéanamh ag GSOC (55%)

Imscrúdú Coiriúil arna dhéanamh ag GSOC (16%)

Ba le básanna a bhain cúig cinn déag de na tarchuir a fuarthas sa bhliain 2018. Bhain cúig cinn díobh sin le teagmhais tráchta ar bhóithre.

Má tá bás i gceist, caithfear breithniú áirithe a dhéanamh ar na hoibleagáidí atá ar an Stát faoi Airteagal 2 den Choinbhinsiún Eorpach um Chearta an Duine (ECHR). Luaitear in Airteagal 2 go gcosnófar leis an dlí an ceart atá ag gach duine chun a bheo. Ceanglaítear ar chomhlachtaí stáit na hÉireann, an Garda Síochána san áireamh, leis an Acht fán gCoinbhinsiún Eorpach um Chearta an Duine, 2003, a bhfeidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh

| Rannán 2: Imscrúduithe Neamhspleácha tar éis Báis nó Díobháil Thromchúiseach

29

“ar shlí atá ar comhréir le hoibleagáidí an Stáit faoi fhorálacha an Choinbhinsiúin” (alt 3(1)).Chun Airteagal 2 a chomhlíonadh, ba cheart, in imscrúduithe ar bhásanna tar éis teagmháil le póilíní, cloí le cúig phrionsabal arna bhforbairt ag an gCúirt Eorpach um Chearta an Duine. Is iad sin:

• Neamhspleáchas• Leordhóthanacht• Tráthúlacht• Iniúchadh ag an bPobal• Rannpháirtíocht a bheith ag Íospartaigh.

Ós rud é gurb é GSOC a dhéanann imscrúduithe den sórt sin, comhlíontar an ceanglas maidir le neamhspleáchas. Bíonn aird againn ar sheasamh leis na ceithre phrionsabal eile freisin. Tá baint dhíreach ag rannpháirtíocht a bheith ag íospartaigh leis an obair a rinneadh sa bhliain 2018 chun cloí leis an reachtaíocht ina leagtar amach na cearta atá ag íospartaigh na coireachta.

Achoimre ar chás

Tarchuireadh chuig GSOC cás an fhir a rinne iarracht féinmharaithe sular chuir baill teaghlaigh fios ar na gardaí.

Chinn gardaí a chuaigh chun na láithreach gur cheart an fear a choimeád faoi alt 12 den Acht Meabhair-Shláinte.

Chuir siad glais lámh air ar mhaithe lena shábháilteacht féin agus le sábháilteacht daoine eile. Tar éis tamaill, ní raibh an fear ábalta freagairt. Iarradh otharcharr agus thosaigh beirt chéad fhreagróirí ar an láthair ag tabhairt athbheochan chardascamhógach (CPR) dó. Úsáideadh dífhibrileoir freisin ach fógraíodh an fear a bheith marbh am éigin tar éis é a thabhairt chun an ospidéil.

Tharchuir gardaí an ní chuig GSOC faoi alt 102(1) d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005 – leagtar síos leis go ‘dtarchuirfidh’ Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána chuig GSOC aon ní a léiríonn, de réir cosúlachta, “go bhféadfadh go raibh iompar comhalta den Gharda Síochána ina chúis le bás duine nó le dochar tromchúiseach a dhéanamh do dhuine” [aistriúchán neamhoifigiúil].

Rinne GSOC imscrúdú agus tháinig sé ar an gconclúid nárbh fhéidir aon chiontaíl i mbás an fhir a chur síos do ghníomhartha na ngardaí. »

» Is amhlaidh, áfach, gur chuir GSOC comhad faoi bhráid an Stiúrthóra Ionchúiseamh Poiblí de réir cheanglais Airteagal 2 den Choinbhinsiún Eorpach um Chearta an Duine.

Seoladh comhad chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí. Mhol GSOC ann nach dtionscnófaí aon ionchúiseamh – thug an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí ordú gan ionchúiseamh a thionscnamh.

Achoimre ar chás

Rinne an Garda Síochána tarchur chuig GSOC faoi alt 102(1) d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, tar éis bhás na mná a bhí i dteagmháil leis na gardaí díreach roimh a bás. Rinneadh imscrúdú neamhspleách chun na cúinsí taobh thiar de bhás na mná a fháil amach. Fuarthas amach san imscrúdú gur cuireadh fios ar na gardaí tar éis do dhuine den phobal bean a bhí ag siúl cois bóthair san oíche agus í ar meisce a fheiceáil. D’aimsigh gardaí an bhean agus thiomáin siad í chuig an teach a shainaithin sí a bheith mar sheoladh di. D’fhág siad ansin í agus lean siad lena ndualgais. Shiúil an bhean amach ón áit sin am éigin ina dhiaidh sin. Buaileadh le feithicil í agus fuair sí bás.

Tarchuireadh an ní chuig GSOC. Aimsíodh san imscrúdú a rinne GSOC gur fhreagair gardaí do ghlaonna inar tarraingíodh imní anuas faoi bhean a bhí ag súil san oíche ar bhóthar nach raibh soilse air. Thairg na gardaí síob abhaile don bhean chun a sábháilteacht a chinntiú. Ní raibh aon chúis ag na gardaí lena chreidiúint gur mhícheart a bhí an seoladh a thug an bhean. Chomh maith leis sin, ní raibh sí chomh meisciúil sin go raibh idirghabháil gardaí ag teastáil. Níor nochtadh san imscrúdú go ndearna gardaí aon sáruithe araíonachta agus ní dhearna GSOC aon ghníomh bhreise.

Rannán 2: Imscrúduithe Neamhspleácha tar éis Báis nó Díobháil Thromchúiseach |

30

Léirítear sna léarscáileanna thíos dáileadh geografach na dtarchur a rinne an Garda Síochána sa bhliain 2018.

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh

2

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh-Láir

3

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas-Láir

2

Ros Comáin/An Longfort

2 An Iarmhí0

An Mhí0

Lú1

An Clár0

Ciarraí2

Corcaigh Thiar0 Cathair Chorcaí

0

Corcaigh Thuaidh

1

Luimneach2

Tiobraid Árann2

Port Láirge2

Loch Garman

3

Cill Chainnigh/Ceatharlach

4

Cill Mhantáin0

Cill Dara1Laois/Uíbh Fhailí

2

Gaillimh1

Maigh Eo0

Sligeach/Liatroim2

Dún na nGall1

An Cabhán/Muineachán

2

Cearnóg Fhearchair0

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thiar

2

1Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas

0

Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thoir

Léarscáil 3: Tarchuir de réir Rannán an Gharda Síochána(gan Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath a bheith a áireamh)

0 1 2 3 4 5

Léarscáil 4: Tarchuir de réir Rannán an Gharda Síochána – Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath

| Rannán 2: Imscrúduithe Neamhspleácha tar éis Báis nó Díobháil Thromchúiseach

31

2.1.2 Torthaí na n-imscrúduithe tar éis tarchurDhún GSOC 30 imscrúdú sa bhliain 2018, cinn ar cuireadh tús leo (sa bhliain 2018 nó i mblianta roimhe) mar thoradh ar tharchuir ón nGarda Síochána.

Dúnadh an cás tar éis don scrúdú tosaigh a léiriú nach raibh aon fhianaise ar mhí-iompraíocht ná ar choiriúlacht a raibh garda ina c(h)úis léi.

10

Rinneadh imscrúdú neamhchoiriúil agus cuireadh i gcrích é. Níor aimsíodh aon fhianaise ar mhí-iompraíocht a raibh garda ina c(h)úis léi

– ní dhearnadh aon ghníomh breise.

11

Rinneadh imscrúdú neamhchoiriúil agus cuireadh i gcrích é– chuir Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána smachtbhanna i bhfeidhm.

0

Rinneadh imscrúdú neamhchoiriúil agus cuireadh i gcrích é– níor chuir Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána smachtbhanna i bhfeidhm.

2

Rinneadh imscrúdú coiriúil agus cuireadh i gcrích é. Níor aimsíodh fianaise leordhóthanach ar mhí-iompar coiriúil a raibh garda ina c(h)úis leis

– ní dhearnadh aon ghníomh breise.

3

Rinneadh imscrúdú coiriúil agus cuireadh i gcrích é– tarchuireadh chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí é – ordaíodh ionchúiseamh.

1

Rinneadh imscrúdú coiriúil agus cuireadh i gcrích é– tarchuireadh chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí é – níor ordaíodh ionchúiseamh.

3

Scoireadh den chás de bharr easpa comhoibrithe ag an bpáirtí díobhálaithe agus mar nach raibh aon saincheisteanna imní eile ann.

0

IOMLÁN 30

Rannán 2: Imscrúduithe Neamhspleácha tar éis Báis nó Díobháil Thromchúiseach |

32

De bhreis ar fhoráil a dhéanamh do nithe a bheith á dtarchur chuig GSOC ag Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána, foráiltear le halt 102 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, d’imscrúduithe a dhéanamh chun leas an phobail, fiú i gcásanna nach bhfuil gearán ná tarchur arna dhéanamh ag Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána iontu.

Féadfaidh an tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais agus an tÚdarás Póilíneachta iarraidh ar GSOC nithe áirithe a imscrúdú. Chomh maith leis sin, féadfaidh siad iarraidh ar GSOC a bhreithniú cé acu ba cheart nó nár cheart dó ní a imscrúdú.

Féadfaidh GSOC a chinneadh freisin go ndéanfaidh sé imscrúduithe i gcásanna nach bhfuil gearáin ná tarchuir iontu.

Foráiltear don méid seo a leanas le halt 102(4) den Acht:

“Féadfaidh an Coimisiún Ombudsman, má fheictear dó é a bheith inmhianaithe chun leas an phobail déanamh amhlaidh agus gan gearán a fháil, imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar aon ní a fheictear dó a léiriú go bhféadfadh–

(a) go ndearna comhalta den Gharda Síochána cion, nó

(b) gur iompair comhalta den Gharda Síochána ar bhealach a thabharfadh údar le himeachtaí araíonachta” [aistriúchán neamhoifigiúil].

Luaitear in alt 102(5) freisin:

“Féadfaidh an tAire, más cuí leis nó léi déanamh amhlaidh chun leas an phobail, iarraidh ar an gCoimisiún Ombudsman imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar aon ní is cúis le hábhar imní go bhféadfadh go ndearna comhalta den Gharda Síochána aon rud dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (4), agus déanfaidh an Coimisiún imscrúdú ar an ní” [aistriúchán neamhoifigiúil].

De bhreis air sin, féadfaidh an tÚdarás Póilíneachta iarraidh ar GSOC nithe a imscrúdú chun leas an phobail agus féadfaidh an tÚdarás Póilíneachta agus an tAire araon ní a tharchur chuig GSOC chun go mbreithneodh an Coimisiún Ombudsman cé acu ba cheart nó nár cheart dó é a imscrúdú chun leas an phobail.

Osclaíodh seacht gcinn déag (17) d’imscrúduithe chun leas an phobail sa bhliain 2018. Dúnadh 14 cinn díobh.

Déantar cur síos achomair anseo ar thrí cinn de na 17 n-imscrúdú chun leas an phobail ar oscail GSOC iad sa bhliain 2018.

• Trí thuairiscí sna meáin, tháinig an Coimisiún Ombudsman ar an eolas go raibh fo-mheaisínghunna ar iarraidh go sealadach ó fheithicil oifigiúil Gardaí agus gurb é duine den phobal a thug an t-arm tine caillte ar ais. Bhí imní ar an gCoimisiún faoi na tuairiscí sna meáin agus faoin easpa slándála a maíodh sna tuairiscí sin. Bhí an Coimisiún den tuairim go mbeadh imscrúdú neamhspleách ag teastáil chun a chinntiú go mbeadh muinín ag an bpobal as formhaoirseacht sibhialtach ar an bpóilíneacht le linn tréimhse ina bhfuil líon méadaithe gardaí faoi airm ar na sráideanna. Tá an t-imscrúdú ar siúl fós.

• Thionscain an Coimisiún Ombudsman imscrúdú chun leas an phobail mar thoradh ar thuairiscí sna meáin go bhfuair duine den phobal rochtain ar Áras an Uachtaráin. Tuairiscíodh gur thiomáin an duine den phobal isteach sa gheata tosaigh, gur shiúil sí isteach sa doras tosaigh agus gur thug sí aghaidh ar an Uachtarán Ó hUigínn. Cosnaíonn an Garda Síochána an geata tosaigh sin. Bunaithe ar na tuairiscí sna meáin agus ar an easpa slándála a maíodh iontu, thionscain an Coimisiún Ombudsman imscrúdú. Tá an t-imscrúdú ar siúl fós.

• Thionscain an Coimisiún Ombudsman imscrúdú chun leas an phobail mar thoradh ar fhaisnéis a fuair sé ón nGarda Síochána. Tugadh le fios san fhaisnéis sin go bhféadfadh gurbh amhlaidh, roimh di feithicil a bhí á tiomáint ag duine den phobal a bhualadh, gur ar bhealach contúirteach agus gan cúram cuí a bhí veain Gardaí á tiomáint. Bhí príosúnach istigh sa veain agus bhí sí á tiomáint ó stáisiún Gardaí. Tá an t-imscrúdú ar siúl fós.

RANNÁN 3: IMSCRÚDUITHE CHUN LEAS AN PHOBAIL

| Rannán 3: Imscrúduithe chun Leas an Phobail

33

» Fuair an Garda Síochána faisnéis á léiriú go raibh na daoine a bhí ag tiomáint feithicle, agus a raibh arm tine ina seilbh acu, ag beartú duine aonair eile a scaoileadh.

Cuireadh roinnt aonad, lenar áiríodh aonaid faoi airm, chun na háite ina raibh feithicil amhrasta a raibh beirt fhear inti.

Tiomáineadh an fheithicil faoi an-luas agus chuaigh an triúr gardaí sa tóir uirthi. Le linn na tóra, caitheadh mála a raibh gunna láimhe ann amach as an bhfeithicil – fuair gardaí an mála ina dhiaidh sin.

Stad an fheithicil agus rith na fir a bhí istigh inti i dtreo feithicil eile a bhí ag fanacht. D’éirigh leis na gardaí a bhí sa tóir orthu duine amháin díobh a stopadh agus a ghabháil. Idir an dá linn, d’fhéach an fear eile leis an láthair a fhágáil san fheithicil a bhí ag fanacht. Bhuail sé carranna páirceáilte agus é ag déanamh amhlaidh.

Na gardaí a ghabh an chéad fhear, chreid siad go raibh siad i gcontúirt de dheasca thiomáint ionsaitheach an fhir eile san fheithicil. Dá bhrí sin, scaoil an garda urchar amháin as arm tine leis an tiománaí. Scaoil gardaí eile sé urchar eile leis an tiománaí.

Lean an tiománaí leis an bhfeithicil a ionramháil go hionsaitheach agus d’éalaigh sé sa deireadh.

Tar éis dó an fhaisnéis a bhí ar fáil a bhreithniú, chinn GSOC go n-imscrúdódh sé an teagmhas de réir alt 102(4) d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005.

Leagadh díriú san imscrúdú ar cé acu ab amhlaidh nó nárbh amhlaidh gur dhleathach agus riachtanach a bhí scaoileadh na n-arm tine, agus ar cé acu a d’fhéadfadh nó nach bhféadfadh go ndearnadh cionta faoi alt 8 d’Acht na nArm Tine agus na nArm Ionsaitheach, 1990 (Arm tine a scaoileadh go meargánta).

Cinneadh san imscrúdú a rinne GSOC gur dhleathach agus riachtanach sna cúinsí a bhí scaoileadh na n-arm tine ag na comhaltaí.

Achoimre ar chás

Tharchuir an Garda Síochána ní chuig GSOC tar éis do thriúr comhaltaí d’Aonad Tacaíochta Réigiúnach an Gharda Síochána a n-airm leictreacha seoltóra (gléasanna Taser) a scaoileadh i dteach teaghlaigh.

Cuireadh na gardaí ón Aonad Tacaíochta Réigiúnach chuig teach tar éis glao a tugadh ar ghardaí. Insíodh sa ghlao go raibh duine a raibh scian aici ag bagairt go ndéanfadh sí dochar di féin agus dá páirtnéir. Bhí an duine a thug an glao ar na gardaí ar an duine a d’oscail an doras.

Agus an duine ag labhairt leis na hoifigigh, tháinig an duine faoi airm i láthair os comhair na ngardaí. D’iarr na hoifigigh uirthi a lámha a thaispeáint dóibh. Nuair a rinne sí amhlaidh, chonaic na gardaí go raibh scian ina lámh aici.

D’ordaigh gardaí di an scian a ligean as a lámh. Thug siad rabhadh di, á rá go raibh gléasanna Taser acu agus go scaoilfeadh siad iad dá mba ghá. Thug an duine a raibh an scian ina lámh aici áladh ar na gardaí. Ag an bpointe sin, scaoil an triúr comhaltaí go léir a ngléas Taser ag an aon am amháin.

Thug na comhaltaí garchabhair don bhean sular tugadh chun an ospidéil í chun go mbainfí di na ‘friofaic’ a scaoileadh ó na gléasanna Taser.

Cuireadh GSOC ar an eolas faoi agus seoladh imscrúdú ar na cúinsí a bhí taobh thiar de scaoileadh na ngléasanna Taser.

Thángthas ar an gconclúid san imscrúdú a rinne GSOC gur dhleathach a bhí an scaoileadh agus gur fhreagair na comhaltaí den Aonad Tacaíochta Réigiúnach ar bhealach comhréireach sna cúinsí.

Achoimre ar chás

D’oscail GSOC imscrúdú chun leas an phobail toisc gur scaoil gardaí a n-airm thine tar éis dóibh dul sa tóir ar fhir faoi airm agus iad a stopadh. »

Rannán 3: Imscrúduithe chun Leas an Phobail |

34

AN MHEICNÍOCHT ATHBHREITHNITHE NEAMHSPLEÁCHDe bhreis orthu sin thuas, ba ar oscailt fós ag deireadh na bliana 2018 a bhí ceithre imscrúdú a tháinig chuig GSOC ón Meicníocht Athbhreithnithe Neamhspleách.

Bhunaigh Frances Fitzgerald TD, an tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais ag an am, an Mheicníocht Athbhreithnithe Neamhspleách sa bhliain 2014. Bhí sé mar chuspóir ag an Meicníocht breithniú a dhéanamh ar líomhaintí maidir le mí-iompar gardaí agus ar laigí agus líomhaintí den sórt sin á n-imscrúdú d’fhonn cinneadh a dhéanamh ar mhéid na gníomhaíochta breise a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag teastáil i ngach cás agus ar an dóigh a ndéanfaí an ghníomhaíocht sin. Bunaíodh painéal a chuimsigh beirt abhcóidí sinsearacha agus cúigear abhcóidí sóisearacha chun líomhaintí a athbhreithniú.

Faoi alt 102(5) d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, d’iarr an tAire ar GSOC imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar 21 chás a d’eascair as an Meicníocht Athbhreithnithe Neamhspleách. Osclaíodh deich gcinn de na himscrúduithe sa bhliain 2015 agus osclaíodh 11 cheann díobh sa bhliain 2016. Den 21 imscrúdú a fuarthas, bhí ceithre cinn ar oscailt fós ag deireadh na bliana 2018.

| Rannán 3: Imscrúduithe chun Leas an Phobail

35

RANNÁN 4: AN TIONSCNAMH IDIRGHABHÁLA ÁITIÚLA

Leathnaíodh an scéim phíolótach chuig an Réigiún Thoir Theas – a chuimsíonn Ceatharlach/Cill Chainnigh, Tiobraid Árann, Port Láirge agus Loch Garman – sa dara cuid den bhliain 2018.

Chuathas i mbun díospóireachta le Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Thiar ag deireadh na bliana 2018 freisin agus cuireadh socruithe i bhfeidhm ansin le haghaidh Idirghabháil Áitiúil a thabhairt isteach ó go luath sa bhliain 2019.

Gan an scéim a bheith ann, is dóigh go ndéileálfaí le formhór na nithe sin mar chuid den phróiseas gearáin fhoirmiúil faoi Rialacháin Araíonachta an Gharda Síochána. Is é atá i gceist leis an bpróiseas sin ná go ndéanann ceannfort nó cigire de chuid an Gharda Síochána imscrúdú ar ghearáin agus go ndéanann ball foirne de chuid GSOC bainistíocht ar an bpróiseas.

Léirítear i sonraí staitistiúla a bailíodh thar na deich mbliana seo a chuaigh thart go bhféadfadh go mbeadh ar an duine den phobal a rinne gearán agus ar an ngarda nó na gardaí a ndearnadh an gearán ina (h)aghaidh nó ina n-aghaidh fanacht ar feadh tréimhse naoi mí (nó níos mó) go dtí go gcríochnófaí an t-imscrúdú agus go dtabharfaí fógra dóibh faoin toradh. San imscrúdú, ní fhéadfaí aghaidh a thabhairt ach ar an tsaincheist maidir le cé acu a bhí nó nach raibh aon mhí-iompraíocht ann ar thaobh an gharda nó na ngardaí. Mar sin, ní fhéadfaí an tsaincheist a spreag an gearánach chun teagmháil a dhéanamh le GSOC ar an gcéad ásc ‘a réiteach’ ann.

Osclaíonn GSOC na céadta imscrúdú gach bliain ar líomhaintí faoi mhíchúirtéis agus faoi fhaillí ‘íseal-leibhéil’ i ndualgas (amhail an teip glao ar ais a thabhairt), ar imscrúduithe iad ar gá do GSOC agus don Gharda Síochána acmhainní a leithdháileadh orthu.

Ba in aghaidh an chúlra sin a chomhaontaigh an Garda Síochána agus GSOC próiseas nua a thabhairt isteach agus rud a dtugaimid an tionscnamh Idirghabhála Áitiúla air a fhorbairt. Tugadh an tionscnamh isteach chun sástacht a bhaint amach do ghearánaigh nach raibh sásta leis an leibhéal seirbhíse a fuair siad ón nGarda Síochána agus, rud chomh tábhachtach céanna,

CÚLRA Le blianta fada anuas, tá GSOC an-eolach ar an easpa sástachta a mhothaíonn daoine tar éis dóibh gearán a dhéanamh faoin drochsheirbhís a fuair siad ó ghardaí. Tá sé eolach freisin go bhféadfadh an fad ama a thógtar chun an cineál gearáin sin a imscrúdú faoi Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána (Araíonacht) strus suntasach a chur ar an ngarda is ábhar do ghearán. Chuathas i mbun díospóireachta le húdaráis an Gharda Síochána roinnt blianta ó shin d’fhonn teacht ar mhodh níos sásúla chun gearáin a réiteach. Mar sin, nuair a chuir an Garda Síochána togra le haghaidh Idirghabháil Áitiúil i láthair GSOC ag deireadh na bliana 2017, féachadh ar an tionscnamh sin mar chéim an-dearfach i dtreo obair le chéile chun na cuspóirí atá ag GSOC faoi alt 673 a bhaint amach. Bhí GSOC i bhfách go mór leis an tionscnamh ag an am agus tá sé i bhfách go mór leis go fóill.

I dtús na bliana 2018, tosaíodh scéim phíolótach le haghaidh gearáin leibhéal seirbhíse a réiteach i Réigiún Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath Theas-Láir.

Tábla 4: Ina leagtar amach an ghníomhaíocht a rinneadh thar thréimhse na scéime píolótaí suas go deireadh na bliana 2018

A (Sráid Chaoimhín)

12 10 2 imscrúdú

B (Sráid an Phiarsaigh)

29 14 7 n-imscrúdúDúnadh 6 cinnTá 2 cheann fós amuigh

E (Domhnach Broc)

6 5 Dúnadh 1 cheann

Réitíodh 62% de ghearáin chun sástacht an ghearánaigh. Ba ghá naoi gcás a imscrúdú tuilleadh agus tarchuireadh chuig Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána iad lena n-imscrúdú gan mhaoirseacht. Dúnadh trí chás toisc gur theip ar na gearánaigh a ngearán a shaothrú trí dhul i dteagmháil le GSOC agus dúnadh trí chás eile toisc gur bhain an gearánach sástacht amach sula bhféadfaí an próiseas a thosú. Bhí dhá chás fós ar láimh ag deireadh na bliana.

3 Is iad seo a leanas na cuspóirí atá ag GSOC de réir alt 67(1) d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005: A chinntiú go gcomhlíontar a chuid feidhmeanna ar bhealach éifeachtúil éifeachtach ina gcaitear go cothrom le gach duine

atá bainteach le gearáin agus le himscrúduithe faoi Chuid 4 (an tAcht) maidir le hiompar comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána, agus muinín an phobail a chothú as an bpróiseas a úsáidtear chun na gearáin sin a réiteach [aistriúchán neamhoifigiúil].

Rannán 4: An Tionscnamh Idirghabhála Áitiúla |

36 | Rannán 4: An Tionscnamh Idirghabhála Áitiúla

chun deis a thabhairt do lucht ardbhainistíochta an Gharda Síochána faireachán a dhéanamh ar an tseirbhís do chustaiméirí agus í a fheabhsú. Gné lárnach den phróiseas ar fad, áfach, ba ea an comhaontú a fuarthas ón ngearánach chun páirt a ghlacadh sa phróiseas nua. Ní fhéadfaí tabhairt faoi aon idirghabháil áitiúil gan an comhaontú sin. Gné riachtanach eile ba ea cigire ainmnithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána a shannadh chun idirghabháil a dhéanamh, agus chruthaigh sé sin a bheith tairbhiúil. Ba mhór ag na gearánaigh go ndearna garda a raibh údarás aige/aici teagmháil leo agus go raibh an garda sin ag obair thar a gceann chun na fíorais a bhunú agus an ní a réiteach dóibh.

Rud suntasach, ba mar thréimhse sé seachtaine a socraíodh an t-amscála uasta don phróiseas nua. Mura bhféadfaí an ní a réiteach laistigh den tréimhse ama sin, dhéileálfaí leis faoin bpróiseas caighdeánach a úsáidtear do gach gearán eile. Mar sin féin, thóg sé níos mó ná sé seachtaine chun déileáil le líon beag nithe a tarchuireadh le haghaidh idirghabhála. Tharla sé sin toisc go raibh an cigire ag iarraidh a chinntiú go rabhthas ag tabhairt faoin bpróiseas agus go gcuirfí ar aghaidh é.

Is é an mhalairt ar idirghabháil áitiúil ná próiseas araíonachta fada a thionscnamh, ar próiseas é nach dtugtar aghaidh ann ar an gcroí-shaincheist a ndearnadh gearán fúithi.

Tá díospóireacht ar siúl cheana féin maidir leis an gclár a leathnú de réir a chéile go dtí go mbeidh sé ar bun ar fud na tíre faoi dheireadh na bliana 2019.

AN SCÉIM PHÍOLÓTACH Cuirtear síos sa rannán seo ar na gnéithe sin de scéim phíolótach an tionscnaimh idirghabhála áitiúla a dhéanfar a mhacasamhlú de réir mar a leathnaítear an tionscnamh chuig rannáin eile de chuid an Gharda Síochána.

Nuair a fhaigheann GSOC gearán, cinneann sé cé acu atá nó nach bhfuil an ní oiriúnach d’idirghabháil áitiúil.

Is iad saincheisteanna leibhéal seirbhíse, amhail gearáin faoi mhíchúirtéis nó faoi fhaillí íseal-leibhéil i ndualgas, na haon saincheisteanna amháin a bhreithnítear le haghaidh idirghabháil áitiúil. Áirítear iad seo a leanas leis na cineálacha saincheisteanna a bhreithnítear:

• Cásanna inar soláthraíodh seirbhís ar dhroch-cháilíocht nó ar dhroch-chaighdeán

• Cásanna inar soláthraíodh seirbhís neamhéifeachtúil nó nach bhfuarthas aon seirbhís iontu

• Cásanna ina rabhthas neamhshibhialta/mímhúinte

• Cásanna nach bhfuarthas aon fhreagra ar chumarsáid iontu

Má tá an tsaincheist oiriúnach don phróiseas, déanfaidh GSOC teagmháil leis an ngearánach, míneoidh sé an próiseas idirghabhála áitiúla agus fiafróidh sé den ghearánach an dtoilíonn sé/sí leis an ngearán a bheith á shaothrú ar an mbealach sin. Má thugann an gearánach toiliú, tarchuirfidh GSOC an ní chuig cigire ainmnithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána, a bhainisteoidh an próiseas thar ceann an Gharda Síochána ansin.

Mar chuid den phróiseas, déanfaidh an cigire ainmnithe teagmháil leis an ngearánach thar an teileafón chun a fháil amach cé na gníomhartha nó na torthaí atá á lorg aige/aici. Rachaidh an cigire i mbun díospóireachta leis an gcomhalta lena mbaineann freisin chun a iniúchadh conas a tháinig an tsaincheist chun cinn. Níl sé i gceist leis an bpróiseas milleán a leagan ar dhuine aonair – is é an aidhm atá leis aghaidh a thabhairt ar an tsaincheist a tarraingíodh anuas agus foghlaim ó na nithe a tharla chun a chinntiú nach dtarlóidh siad arís.

Má réitítear gearán chun sástacht an ghearánaigh, tabharfaidh an cigire fógra do GSOC faoi sin. Déanfaidh GSOC teagmháil leis an ngearánach ansin chun an tsástacht a dheimhniú agus chun aiseolas a fháil ar an bpróiseas. A luaithe a bheidh an gearánach sásta, dúnfar an comhad. Más rud é nach n-éireoidh leis na hiarrachtaí a dhéanfar an gearán a réiteach trí idirghabháil áitiúil, tarchuirfear an gearán ar ais chuig GSOC. Cinnfidh sé ansin cé acu ba cheart nó nár cheart an gearán a ghlacadh lena imscrúdú tuilleadh.

AN PRÓISEASMaidir le gach cás a fhaigheann GSOC, is mar ‘cheisteanna’ a thaifeadtar iad ar dtús ar an gCóras Bainistíochta Cásanna. Ní dhéanfar na cásanna sin a uasghrádú ina ngearáin go dtí go mbeidh faisnéis dhóthanach ar fáil lena gcumasófar do GSOC a chinneadh cé acu atá nó nach bhfuil an cás inghlactha.

Is mar ‘cheisteanna’, seachas mar ‘ghearáin’, a dhéileálfar go fóill le cásanna a shainaithnítear a bheith oiriúnach d’idirghabháil áitiúil. Tá sé sin tábhachtach toisc go bhfuil an tAcht faoina n-oibríonn GSOC – is é sin, Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005 – measartha saintreorach maidir leis na gníomhartha nach mór do GSOC iad a dhéanamh a luaithe a dhéanfar ceist a chatagóiriú mar ghearán. Mar shampla, ní mór fógra a

37Rannán 4: An Tionscnamh Idirghabhála Áitiúla |

NeamhainmníochtMurab ionann agus gearáin, ní dhéanann GSOC aon cheangal idir comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána agus na cásanna sin atá ar ár gCóras Bainistíochta Cásanna. Is é an réasúnaíocht atá taobh thiar de sin ná comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána a spreagadh páirt a ghlacadh sa phróiseas, agus fios acu roimh ré nach n-imreoidh sé sin aon tionchar diúltach orthu.

STAITISTICÍCoinneoidh GSOC agus na cigirí ainmnithe staitisticí faoin líon gearán leibhéal seirbhíse agus faoi chineál na ngearán leibhéal seirbhíse a rinneadh agus a réitíodh.

Comhthiomsófar na staitisticí sin ar bhonn comhpháirteach le GSOC agus tabharfar iad ar bhonn ráithiúil d’Oifigigh Réigiúnacha agus Áitiúla agus Oifigigh Rannáin an Gharda Síochána agus d’Aonad Cumarsáide agus Taighde GSOC. Tabharfar cóip den chéanna d’Aonad Gnóthaí Inmheánacha an Gharda Síochána. Léireofar sna staitisticí sin an líon saincheisteanna a tarchuireadh, a réitíodh nó a seoladh ar ais gan réiteach chuig GSOC agus an cineál réitigh a lorgaíodh/a baineadh amach. Ina theannta sin, ceanglófar ar an gcigire ainmnithe treochtaí a shainaithint agus, trí shonraí gan ainm a sholáthar, na fionnachtana a scaipeadh ar bhonn áitiúil ar mhaithe le feabhas a chur ar an tseirbhís a sholáthraítear sa limistéar áitiúil agus ar mhaithe le deis a thabhairt do GSOC breithniú a dhéanamh ar an mbealach is cuí chun gearáin amach anseo a tharchur le haghaidh idirghabháil áitiúil.

CONCLÚIDTreochtaí atá ag teacht chun cinnShainaithin GSOC ceithre threocht cheana féin a spreag daoine den phobal teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an oifig chun a míshástacht a chur in iúl. Tarraingíodh aird údaráis an Gharda Síochána orthu sin d’fhonn athruithe a bhaint amach.

MaoirseachtTugtar leis an gcóras PULSE deis do mhaoirseoirí an Gharda Síochána amharc ar ualach oibre a mball foirne agus gníomh a dhéanamh i gcásanna nár cuireadh aon obair i gcrích iontu. Is cosúil nach ndéanann maoirseoirí aon ghníomh uaireanta i leith na mbratach lena léirítear moill ar dhul chun cinn (cé gur féidir go mbíonn tosca maolaitheacha i gceist). Is cosúil freisin gur féidir moill a chur ar imscrúduithe dá bharr sin agus

thabhairt do Choimisinéir an Gharda Síochána faoi gach gearán a fhaightear, is cuma cé acu a mheastar nó nach meastar iad a bheith inghlactha; ní mór fógra a thabhairt do chomhaltaí den Gharda Síochána fúthu freisin; agus, a luaithe a bheidh gearán inghlactha, ní mór Oifigigh Imscrúduithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána a cheapadh nó ní mór cur de chúram ar imscrúdaitheoirí de chuid GSOC na himscrúduithe a dhéanamh.

Céim 1A luaithe a mheasfaidh GSOC go bhfuil ‘ceist’ oiriúnach d’idirghabháil áitiúil, déanfaidh sé teagmháil leis an duine den phobal a tharraing an tsaincheist anuas agus fiafróidh sé den duine sin an gcomhaontóidh sé/sí le hidirghabháil áitiúil.

Má thugann an duine toiliú, seolfaidh GSOC an ní chuig an gcigire ainmnithe.

Céim 2Déanfaidh an cigire ainmnithe de chuid an Gharda Síochána teagmháil leis an ngearánach agus gheobhaidh an cigire amach cé na gníomhartha nó na torthaí atá á lorg ag an ngearánach. Déanfar é sin laistigh de sheacht lá ón ní a fháil ó GSOC.

Céim 3Déanfaidh an cigire teagmháil leis an ngarda a ndearnadh gearán faoi/fúithi maidir leis na saincheisteanna a tarraingíodh anuas d’fhonn míshástacht shainráite an ghearánaigh a phlé agus d’fhonn teacht ar réiteach.

Céim 4Déanfaidh an cigire teagmháil leis an ngearánach chun é/í a chur ar an eolas faoin ngníomh atá á dhéanamh chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar an ní. Má réitítear an ní chun sástacht an ghearánaigh, tabharfar fógra do GSOC faoin toradh. Tabharfaidh an cigire fógra don chomhalta den Gharda Síochána freisin go bhfuil an ní curtha i gcrích. Mura réitítear an ní, tabharfaidh an cigire fógra do GSOC faoi sin. Déanfaidh GSOC cinneadh ansin ar an ngníomh breise, más ann dó, ba cheart a dhéanamh. Cinnfidh GSOC ag an am sin cé acu atá nó nach bhfuil an gearán inghlactha.

Céim 5Déanfaidh GSOC teagmháil leis an ngearánach chun réiteach an ní a dheimhniú nó, mura réitítear an ní, cinnfidh GSOC cé acu ba cheart nó nár cheart an gearán a ghlacadh lena imscrúdú tuilleadh.

38

gur cuireadh moill orthu i ndáiríre cheana féin. Ní chuirtear daoine den phobal ar an eolas faoi dhul chun cinn ach oiread.

Saoire BhreoiteachtaBhí cásanna ann san am atá thart ina raibh comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána ar shaoire bhreoiteachta ar feadh tréimhsí éagsúla ama. Ní eol do dhaoine den phobal nach bhfuil aon rochtain ag gardaí ar an ríomhphost lasmuigh den áit oibre agus ní thugtar freagra uathoibrithe ar aon ríomhphoist a fhaightear. Níl aithne acu ar na maoirseoirí lena mbaineann agus ní threoraítear iad chucu chun cúnamh a fháil sna cásanna sin ach oiread.

CumarsáidBhain formhór na ngearán le líomhaintí go raibh teip ann. Le linn idirghabháil áitiúil, fuarthas amach nach raibh, tríd is tríd, aon teip ann dualgais a chur i gcrích. Thángthas ar an teip cumarsáid a dhéanamh, áfach. Tá sé tábhachtach go ndéanfadh gardaí cumarsáid mhéadaithe le daoine den phobal, is cuma cé acu atá dea-scéala nó drochscéala á thabhairt acu dóibh. Is dóigh go laghdóidh cumarsáid d’aon chineál an líon teagmhálacha a dhéanfaidh an pobal le GSOC.

MíchúirtéisLíomhnaíonn daoine den phobal go dtaispeánann gardaí a gciapadh/a bhfrustrachas ar bhealach míchuí spontáineach. Cailleann gardaí a ghníomhaíonn ar an mbealach sin ról an mhórálaí mhóir nuair a íslíonn siad a gcaighdeáin agus nuair a labhraíonn siad le duine aonair ar bhealach míchúirtéiseach.

IMPLEACHTAÍ COSTAISCé gur tugadh an tionscnamh seo isteach roimh fhoilsiú na tuarascála ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta in Éirinn (i mí Mheán Fómhair), tá sé ar aon dul, den chuid is mó, le moltaí na tuarascála. Mhol an Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta go láidir gur mar ní bainistíochta a dhéileálfadh an Garda Síochána le rudaí ar thug sé gearáin ‘seirbhíse’ orthu, seachas iad a chur láithreach faoi réir próiseas araíonachta foirmiúil.

Sa tionscnamh áitiúil, oibríonn GSOC agus an Garda Síochána ar bhealach comhoibríoch ar féidir leis dul chun tairbhe do na geallsealbhóirí uile, lena n-áirítear an pobal.Is suntasach – agus dearfach – do GSOC agus don Gharda Síochána araon atá na himpleachtaí acmhainne a bhaineann le líon mór gearán a

bheith á réiteach go tapa áitiúil. Gach gearán a chuirtear faoi réir an phróisis imscrúdaithe fhoirmiúil (faoi alt 94 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005), caitheann ceannfort agus cigire de chuid an Gharda Síochána míonna nó blianta, uaireanta, ag déanamh imscrúdú orthu thar ceann GSOC. Leagann siad éilimh freisin ar na baill foirne de chuid GSOC atá freagrach as an bpróiseas gearáin a bhainistiú agus/nó as maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar an imscrúdú.

Dá ndéanfaí gearáin seirbhíse áirithe a atreorú chuig idirghabháil áitiúil, ar gearáin iad a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ina n-ábhar d’imscrúduithe fada ar shlí eile, bheadh tuilleadh ama ag a lán oifigeach sinsearach de chuid an Gharda Síochána agus ag a lán ball foirne de chuid GSOC a ndualgais eile a chur i gcrích.

| Rannán 4: An Tionscnamh Idirghabhála Áitiúla

39

RANNÁN 5: GNÍOMHAÍOCHT DLÍ TAR ÉIS IMSCRÚDUITHE COIRIÚLA

• Tiomáint chontúirteach, contrártha d’alt 53 den Acht um Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 1961

• Cúiseamh amháin in ionsaí a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine (cion achomair amháin); cúiseamh amháin i dtiomáint chontúirteach (cion achomair amháin); cúiseamh amháin in úsáid a bhaint as feithicil nach raibh ceadúnas mótarchánach i bhfeidhm di, contrártha d’alt 13(1) den Acht um Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 1920; agus cúiseamh amháin i mainneachtain diosca cánach a thaispeáint, contrártha d’alt 73(1) den Acht Airgeadais, 1976.

CÁSANNA A CUIREADH I GCRÍCH SA CHÚIRT SA BHLIAIN 2018Bhí sé chás a tháinig as imscrúduithe coiriúla de chuid GSOC os comhair na gcúirteanna sa bhliain 2018 – bhain gach ceann díobh le comhaid a seoladh chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí roimh an mbliain 2018.

• An 5 Feabhra 2018, phléadáil garda ciontach in ionsaí gnéasach a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um an Dlí Coiriúil (Banéigean) (Leasú), 1990. Cuireadh téarma príosúnachta dhá bhliain ar an ngarda an 12 Deireadh Fómhair 2018 (féach an painéal chun an cás-staidéar a léamh).

• An 23 Feabhra 2018, cúisíodh garda in ionsaí a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine. Fuarthas an garda neamhchiontach.

• An 5 Márta 2018, déileáladh le beirt chomhaltaí den Gharda Síochána trí bhíthin rabhadh aosach. Cúisíodh an bheirt díobh in ionsaí a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997 (féach an painéal chun an cás-staidéar a léamh). Is é an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí a dhéanann an cinneadh chun rabhadh aosach a thabhairt.

• Ciontaíodh comhalta den Gharda Síochána i dtiomáint neamhaireach. Gearradh fíneáil €500 ar an gcomhalta i mí an Mhárta 2018.

• Cúisíodh comhalta den Gharda Síochána in dhá chúiseamh in ionsaí a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997. Déileáladh leis an gcomhalta trí bhíthin rabhadh aosach. Tugadh an rabhadh aosach an 9 Samhain 2018.

• I mí na Nollag, ciontaíodh garda i dtiomáint chontúirteach is trúig bháis.

Déanann GSOC imscrúduithe coiriúla tar éis gearáin (a ndéantar cur síos orthu i rannán 1) agus tarchuir (a ndéantar cur síos orthu i rannán 2) a fháil ón nGarda Síochána agus ó dhaoine eile, lena n-áirítear, mar shampla, an tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais.

Má tharlaíonn sé tar éis an imscrúdaithe go mbeidh an Coimisiún den tuairim go bhféadfadh gur chion a bhí in iompar aon chomhalta nó aon chomhaltaí atá faoi imscrúdú, ní mór do GSOC comhad a sheoladh chuig Oifig an Stiúrthóra Ionchúiseamh Poiblí.

Seolann GSOC comhaid chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí freisin i gcás go bhfuair duine bás agus é/í faoi choimeád an Gharda Síochána nó tar éis don duine éagtha bheith i dteagmháil le gardaí, fiú amháin i gcás nár tháinig GSOC ar aon fhianaise ar éagóir ar thaobh na ngardaí. Ghlac GSOC an beartas sin ag féachaint d’Airteagal 2 den Choinbhinsiún Eorpach um Chearta an Duine.

Is é an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí a chinneann cé acu a ionchúiseofar nó nach n-ionchúiseofar an cás sa chúirt.

COMHAID A SEOLADH CHUIG AN STIÚRTHÓIR IONCHÚISEAMH POIBLÍSa bhliain 2018, sheol GSOC 17 gcomhad chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí tar éis imscrúdú coiriúil ag imscrúdaitheoirí de chuid GSOC. Ag eascairt as na comhaid sin:

• tugadh 4 ordú go ndéanfaí ionchúiseamh• tugadh 9 n-ordú nach ndéanfaí aon

ionchúiseamh • bhí 4 chinneadh ar feitheamh ag deireadh

na bliana 2018

De bhreis air sin, d’ordaigh an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí nach ndéanfaí ionchúiseamh i dtaca le comhad a raibh cinneadh ina leith ar feitheamh ag deireadh na bliana 2017.

Tugadh orduithe go ndéanfaí ionchúiseamh sna cásanna seo a leanas:

• Cúiseamh amháin i dtuairisc bhréagach a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 12(A) den Acht um an Dlí Coiriúil, 1976 (níor bhain sé seo le comhalta den Gharda Síochána)

• Ionsaí is cúis le díobháil a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 3 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997. Bhain sé seo le beirt chomhaltaí ar leith den Gharda Síochána

Rannán 5: Gníomhaíocht Dlí tar éis Imscrúduithe Coiriúla |

40

Rabhadh Aosach Tháinig an Scéim um Rabhadh Aosach i bhfeidhm sa bhliain 2006 mar mhalairt ar dhaoine a ionchúiseamh i leith cionta áirithe. Is faoin gceannfort áitiúil de chuid an Gharda Síochána (nó faoin gcigire de chuid an Gharda Síochána atá ag gníomhú mar Oifigeach Ceantair) atá sé a chinneadh cé acu a thabharfar rabhadh aosach nó a thionscnófar ionchúiseamh. I gcás imscrúduithe ó GSOC, áfach, is faoin Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí atá sé a chinneadh cé acu a thabharfar nó nach dtabharfar rabhadh.

Ní mór an rabhadh a thabhairt i stáisiún Gardaí, ach amháin i gcúinsí eisceachtúla.

Sula bhféadfar rabhadh aosach a thabhairt, ní mór don duine a cúisíodh i gcion glacadh le freagracht as an iompraíocht atá i gceist agus ní mór foláireamh (rabhadh) a thabhairt dó/di ansin gur dóigh go n-ionchúiseofar é/í i gcás go mbeidh sé/sí ciontach in aon iompraíocht choiriúil den chineál céanna amach anseo.

Ní mór an ciontóir a mheas a bheith oiriúnach don rabhadh freisin. Is minic a mheasfar daoine nach bhfuil aon chiontuithe acu roimhe seo a bheith incháilithe do rabhadh aosach a fháil. I bhformhór na gcásanna, níor cheart do dhuine rabhadh aosach a fháil ach uair amháin. Ní mheasfar duine a bheith oiriúnach do rabhadh aosach eile a fháil ach amháin i gcúinsí eisceachtúla (mar shampla, i gcás gur mionchion é an dara cion nó i gcás go ndeachaigh tamall fada thart ó rinneadh an chéad chion). Ní mór cead an Stiúrthóra Ionchúiseamh Poiblí a lorg i gcásanna den sórt sin.

Ba cheart tuairimí an íospartaigh a lorg agus a bhreithniú sula dtabharfar aon rabhadh aosach.

Ní fhéadfar rabhadh aosach a thabhairt ach amháin i leith cionta sonraithe áirithe.

Áirítear leis na taifid sin:• mion-ionsaithe (is é sin le rá,

ionsaithe atá contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997)

• bheith ar meisce in áit phoiblí, iompar mí-ordúil in áit phoiblí agus roinnt cionta eile atá contrártha don Acht um Cheartas Coiriúil (Ord Poiblí), 1994 »

• gadaíocht, i gcás nach mó luach na maoine ná €1,000 (contrártha d’alt 4 den Acht um Cheartas Coiriúil (Cionta Gadaíochta agus Calaoise), 2001, agus

• cionta ag duine óltach (contrártha d’alt 6 den Acht Deochanna Meisciúla, 2003).

I gcásanna a eascraíonn as imscrúduithe ó GSOC, tabharfar an rabhadh i láthair oifigeach de chuid GSOC. Iarrfar ar oifigigh de chuid GSOC tuairimí an pháirtí dhíobhálaithe a lorg agus, cé go gcuirfear tuairimí an pháirtí dhíobhálaithe san áireamh, ní bheidh siad cinntitheach. Mura bhfuil an páirtí díobhálaithe ag iarraidh go ndéileálfaí leis an ní trí bhíthin rabhadh aosach, ba cheart don Gharda Síochána an ní a tharchur chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí, a dhéanfaidh an cinneadh deiridh.

Cásanna a bhí ar feitheamh os comhair na gCúirteanna ag deireadh na bliana 2018

• Cúisíodh garda in ionsaí gnéasach a dhéanamh ar mhionaoiseach

• Cúisíodh garda in ionsaí a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 3 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997, agus i ndamáiste coiriúil a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 2(1) den Acht um Dhamáiste Coiriúil, 1991

• Bhí comhalta den Gharda Síochána ina (h)ábhar do chúisimh i dtiomáint chontúirteach is trúig bháis, contrártha d’alt 53 den Acht um Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 1961, i dtiomáint chontúirteach is cúis le díobháil thromchúiseach a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 52 den Acht um Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 1961, i láthair tionóisce a fhágáil, contrártha d’alt 106(1)(B), agus i mainneachtain cúnamh a thairiscint, contrártha d’alt 106(A) den Acht um Thrácht ar Bhóithre, 1961

• Cúisíodh comhalta den Gharda Síochána in ionsaí a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997

• Cúisíodh comhalta den Gharda Síochána i ngadaíocht a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 4 den Acht um Cheartas Coiriúil (Cionta Gadaíochta agus Calaoise), 2001, agus in ionsaí a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997

| Rannán 5: Gníomhaíocht Dlí tar éis Imscrúduithe Coiriúla

41

» Chuaigh an bhean go dtí a leaba agus lean na daoine eile ag labhairt sa seomra suí den lóistín. Mhúscail fear – a bhí ina bhall den ghrúpa – an bhean tamall ina dhiaidh sin. Bhí an fear ar an leaba léi agus bhí sé ag baint mí-úsáid ghnéis aisti.

Rinne an fear iarracht a leithscéal a ghabháil leis an mbean agus lena fear chéile ar Facebook an lá dár gcionn, ach chuaigh an lánúin chuig stáisiún Gardaí tamaillín ina dhiaidh sin, áit a ndearna siad ráiteas.

Le linn an imscrúdaithe ó GSOC, rinneadh anailís ar na teachtaireachtaí teileafóin agus meán sóisialta a seoladh agus ar na hagallaimh a rinneadh le daoine a d’fhreastail ar an imeacht carthanúil.

Tar éis an imscrúdaithe, sheol GSOC comhad chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí. Thug an Stiúrthóir ordú go ndéanfaí an garda a ionchúiseamh i leith ionsaí gnéasach, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um an Dlí Coiriúil (Banéigean) (Leasú), 1990.

Bhí an triail ar siúl os comhair giúiré agus mhair sí cúpla lá, ar lena linn a thug an t-íospartach agus daoine eile fianaise. San fhianaise uaithi, labhair an bhean faoi na deacrachtaí a bhí aici ar dtús maidir leis an teagmhas a thuairisciú, agus í ag rá:

“Cé a chreidfeadh mise seachas garda, atá in ainm a bheith ina chrann taca don phobal agus beag beann ar an dlí?”

Phléadáil an garda ciontach díreach sula raibh an giúiré le tús a chur lena chuid plé.

Sheirbheáil Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána páipéir dhífhostaithe air tar éis téarma príosúnachta dhá bhliain a chur air. Thairg sé éirí as ansin agus glacadh leis an tairiscint.

• Cúisíodh duine (nach raibh ina c(h)omhalta den Gharda Síochána) i dtuairisc bhréagach a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 12(A) den Acht um an Dlí Coiriúil, 1976

• Cúisíodh beirt chomhaltaí den Gharda Síochána in ionsaí is cúis le díobháil a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 3 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine

• Cúisíodh comhalta den Gharda Síochána in ionsaí a dhéanamh, contrártha d’alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, i dtiomáint chontúirteach, in úsáid a bhaint as feithicil nach raibh ceadúnas mótarchánach i bhfeidhm di agus i mainneachtain diosca cánach a thaispeáint.

Achoimre ar chás

Tar éis imscrúdú ó GSOC, cuireadh téarma príosúnachta dhá bhliain ar gharda i leith ionsaí gnéasach a dhéanamh.

Tosaíodh an t-imscrúdú coiriúil tar éis do bhean ráiteas a dhéanamh i stáisiún Gardaí. Sa ráiteas sin, rinne sí cur síos ar ionsaí gnéasach a rinne fear uirthi cúpla lá roimhe sin. B’eol di go raibh an fear ina gharda ag an am. Rinne an Garda Síochána roinnt fiosruithe sular seoladh an gearán chuig GSOC. Fiafraíodh den íospartach an dtoileodh sí leis an ní a bheith á shaothrú ag GSOC. Thug sí an toiliú sin.

Rinne imscrúdaitheoirí de chuid GSOC agallamh leis an íospartach agus le finnéithe eile maidir leis na heachtraí a bhí taobh thiar den ionsaí gnéasach líomhnaithe.

Fuarthas amach gur tharla an teagmhas tar éis imeacht carthanúil ar ar fhreastail an bhean agus roinnt cairde agus daoine aitheantais dá cuid. D’fhan an grúpa, a raibh garda as dualgas ina mheasc, thar oíche i lóistín de stíl árasáin. Bhí béile agus roinnt deochanna acu le chéile sular fhill siad ar an lóistín, áit ar lean siad leis an scléip. »

Rannán 5: Gníomhaíocht Dlí tar éis Imscrúduithe Coiriúla |

42 | Rannán 5: Gníomhaíocht Dlí tar éis Imscrúduithe Coiriúla

Achoimre ar chás

Tar éis imscrúdú ó GSOC, cúisíodh bheirt ghardaí in ionsaí a dhéanamh.

Tháinig an t-imscrúdú sna sála ar tharchur a rinne ceannfort de chuid an Gharda Síochána chuig GSOC maidir le teagmhas inar gabhadh fear tar éis do roinnt feithiclí Gardaí dul sa tóir air ar feadh 45 nóiméad. Chríochnaigh an tóir nuair a d’imbhuail an carr a raibh na gardaí sa tóir air faoi fheithicil Gardaí.

Gabhadh an fear agus tógadh chuig stáisiún Gardaí é, áit ar léiríodh i dtorthaí tástála go raibh a leibhéal alcóil faoi bhun na teorann dlíthiúla. Ar a scaoileadh ón stáisiún, d’fhreastail an fear ar an ospidéal. Cuireadh cóireáil air de bharr roinnt gortuithe, lenar áiríodh cneá ar theastaigh roinnt greamanna ina leith.

Thug na gardaí a bhí páirteach sa tóir agus a bhí ar an láthair nuair a gabhadh an fear cuntais ar ar thit amach. Cuireadh na cuntais sin ar aghaidh chuig GSOC.

Dúirt roinnt gardaí gur streachail an fear agus gur chomhraic sé gabháil nuair a bhí sé á thógáil ón gcarr tar éis an imbhuailte.

Sna cuntais uathu, dúirt beirt de na gardaí go ndearna beirt ghardaí eile an fear a chiceáil agus a bhualadh nuair a bhí a bhéal faoi ar an talamh, agus glas láimh air.

Cé gur tosaíodh an t-imscrúdú ó GSOC de bhun tarchur a fháil faoi alt 102 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, rinne an fear gearán chuig GSOC freisin go ndearna gardaí ionsaí air.

Rinne GSOC imscrúdú coiriúil ansin, arbh é an toradh a bhí air gur seoladh comhad chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí. D’ordaigh an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí go ndéanfaí beirt ghardaí a ionchúiseamh i leith ionsaí a dhéanamh faoi alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine, 1997. »

» Tamaillín roimh an éisteacht chúirte, rinne aturnae don bheirt ghardaí iarratas chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí go ndéileálfaí leis an ní faoin Scéim um Rabhadh Aosach (a mhínítear níos luaithe sa rannán seo). Chuathas i ndáil chomhairle leis an bpáirtí díobhálaithe agus le GSOC agus ní dhearna ceachtar díobh aon agóid ina aghaidh sin.

Tugadh rabhadh aosach don bheirt ghardaí ansin. Agus iad ag glacadh leis an rabhadh, d’admhaigh an bheirt go ndearna siad cion faoi alt 2 den Acht um Chionta Neamh-Mharfacha in aghaidh an Duine.

Dhún GSOC an t-imscrúdú uaidh agus ní dhearna sé aon ghníomh eile ina leith.

Achoimre ar chás

Sheol GSOC imscrúdú coiriúil tar éis do dhuine gearán a dhéanamh le GSOC faoi theagmháil a bhí aige agus ag ball teaghlaigh dá chuid le garda as dualgas. Bhí an bheirt bhall teaghlaigh ag obair ar charr nuair a d’ordaigh fear dóibh an fheithicil a bhogadh. Chuir an fear in iúl dóibh go raibh sé ina gharda.

D’inis an gearánach do GSOC gur ordaigh an garda as dualgas dóibh arís agus arís eile an carr a bhogadh agus gur chuir sé a lámh ar ghéag an bhaill teaghlaigh eile roinnt uaireanta.

Chuir an garda as dualgas glao ar an stáisiún áitiúil Gardaí ansin maidir leis an teagmhas.

D’inis an gearánach do GSOC go ndeachaigh sé chuig an stáisiún níos déanaí agus, nuair a fiafraíodh de an raibh sé ag iarraidh gearán a dhéanamh, dúirt sé nach raibh sé ag iarraidh ach go ngabhfadh an garda as dualgas a leithscéal lena bhall teaghlaigh.

Fuair GSOC an gearán ansin agus, toisc gurbh ionann é agus líomhain go ndearnadh ionsaí, rinne sé imscrúdú coiriúil ar an ní faoi alt 98 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005. »

43Rannán 5: Gníomhaíocht Dlí tar éis Imscrúduithe Coiriúla |

» Le linn an imscrúdaithe, d’amharc an t-imscrúdaitheoir de chuid GSOC ar phíosaí scannáin a tógadh ar cheamara deaise an chairr a raibh an gearánach ag obair air tráth na teagmhála.

Dúirt an t-imscrúdaitheoir gur gabhadh an teagmhas sna píosaí scannáin agus gur taispeánadh iontu gur ghníomhaigh an garda as dualgas ar bhealach éilitheach agus míréasúnta. Níor thug sé deis don ghearánach ná don duine eile an carr a bhogadh sula ndeachaigh sé ar aghaidh chun éilimh eile a dhéanamh.

Taispeánadh sna píosaí scannáin gur chomhoibrigh an gearánach agus an duine eile leis an ngarda, tríd is tríd.

Sheol GSOC comhad chuig an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí ag deireadh an imscrúdaithe.

D’ordaigh an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí nach ndéanfaí aon ionchúiseamh sa chás seo.

Thug GSOC fógra do Choimisinéir an Gharda Síochána faoin gcinneadh ón Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí agus dúirt sé nach raibh aon bhunús ann le tuilleadh imscrúdaithe a bheith á dhéanamh ag GSOC i dtaca le nithe araíonachta.

44

RANNÁN 6: EOLAS A THABHAIRT DO BHEARTAS AGUS CLEACHTAS PÓILÍNEACHTA AN GHARDA SÍOCHÁNA

Creideann an Coimisiún Ombudsman gur gné thábhachtach den fhormhaoirseacht is ea aird a tharraingt ar shaincheisteanna sistéamacha agus bainistíochta nuair a thagann siad chun cinn agus moltaí a dhéanamh chun a chinntiú nach dtarlóidh teagmhais den chineál céanna arís.

MOLTAÍ SISTÉAMACHA Le linn a gcuid imscrúduithe, tarlaíonn sé ó am go ham go dtagann imscrúdaitheoirí de chuid GSOC ar chleachtais agus saincheisteanna áirithe a gcreideann GSOC gur gá aird lucht bainistíochta an Gharda Síochána a tharraingt orthu. Is le saincheisteanna sistéamacha nó bainistíochta, seachas le hiompraíocht daoine aonair, a bhaineann na cleachtais agus na saincheisteanna atá leagtha amach anseo.

Tábla 5: Moltaí a rinneadh don Gharda Síochána sa bhliain 2018

SR1 Tarchur faoi alt 102

Oifigeach Idirchaidrimh Theaghlaigh a Imscaradh

Thosaigh GSOC imscrúdú ar na cúinsí a bhí taobh thiar de bhás tobann duine den phobal. Cé go bhfuarthas amach san imscrúdú nach ndearna an garda lena mbaineann aon sárú araíonachta, tharla sé go bhféadfadh sé níos mó a dhéanamh mar chomhalta den Gharda Síochána maidir le tromchúis na hiarrata ar chúnamh a fuarthas ón teaghlach a chur in iúl do ghardaí a bhí lonnaithe sa stáisiún áitiúil. Ina theannta sin, ba cheart don gharda, mar phóilín gairmiúil, ainm an duine ar chuir sé an teachtaireacht in iúl dó/di sa stáisiún Gardaí a dhoiciméadú.

Fuarthas amach freisin go bhféadfaí dul i dteagmháil le gaolta atá faoi bhrón agus a gcuid riachtanas agus ionchas a bhainistiú ar bhealach i bhfad níos fearr trí úsáid thiomnaithe a bhaint as Oifigigh oilte Idirchaidrimh Theaghlaigh.

Tharraing GSOC aird ar na teipeanna sistéamacha a sainaithníodh sa chás seo agus, go háirithe, d’fhéach sé leis na beartais seo a leanas a mheabhrú don Gharda Síochána:

1. Treoir lena gceanglaítear gurb amhlaidh, nuair a fhaigheann an Garda Síochána iarraidh ar sheirbhís, go dtaifeadfaí an iarraidh sin a luaithe a dhéantar í.

2. Treoir lena gceanglaítear gurb amhlaidh, nuair a fhaigheann comhalta den Gharda Síochána gearán nó tuairisc, go mbeadh dualgas ar an gcomhalta sin a (h)ainm agus a (h)uimhir theileafóin stáisiúin a thabhairt.

3. Beartas Idirchaidrimh Theaghlaigh an Gharda Síochána lena gceanglaítear gurb amhlaidh, nuair a mheasann an tOifigeach Ceantair é a bheith riachtanach, go ndéanfaí Oifigeach Idirchaidrimh Theaghlaigh de chuid an Gharda Síochána a imscaradh chuig teagmhas a bhfuil bás tobann i gceist leis. Leagtar amach sa bheartas freisin go bhfuil “luath-imscaradh an Oifigigh Idirchaidrimh Theaghlaigh de chuid an Gharda Síochána ag an Oifigeach Ceantair ríthábhachtach maidir le rath sheirbhís Oifigeach Idirchaidrimh Theaghlaigh an Gharda Síochána a áirithiú. Is fíorthábhachtach atá ról ceannaireachta an Oifigigh Cheantair. Is fíorthábhachtach freisin go ndéanfaí cumarsáidí atá struchtúrtha go gairmiúil le híospartaigh/le teaghlach na n-íospartach díreach tar éis teagmhais thrámacha.

Seoladh an moladh an 15/02/018.

Fuarthas litir admhála an 31/07/2018.

| Rannán 6: Eolas a Thabhairt do Bheartas agus Cleachtas Póilíneachta an Gharda Síochána

45

Ábhar ginearálta

Ábhar sonrach

Moladh agus freagra

SR2 Imscrúdú chun Leas an Phobail

Feasacht na gComhaltaí ar Fhaisnéis maidir le Foláirimh

Le linn dó imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar chás a raibh gortú an-tromchúiseach i gceist leis, rinne GSOC moladh chun aird a tharraingt ar ábhair imní faoin bhfaisnéis a bhí ar fáil do chomhaltas ginearálta an Gharda Síochána faoi na rioscaí a bhain le duine amháin de na daoine a bhí i gceist, ar rioscaí iad a raibh gardaí áirithe ar an eolas fúthu. I dtaca leis sin, moladh go mbainfí úsáid mhéadaithe as an rannán Foláireamh den chóras PULSE.

Seoladh an moladh an 20/04/2018

Ba léir sa fhreagra a fuarthas go ndearna an Garda Síochána machnamh domhain ar an moladh. Thug an Garda Síochána le fios go bhfuil sé mar chleachtas aige faoi láthair ábhar a scaipeadh chomh leathan agus a mheasann sé a bheith sábháilte agus cuí ón taobh oibríochtúil de. Thug sé le fios freisin go mbeadh baol ann, dá scaipfí foláirimh ar bhonn níos minice ar fud an Gharda Síochána, go laghdófaí an tionchar a bhíonn acu.

SR3 Imscrúdú faoi alt 94(1)/Athbhreithniú faoi alt 94(10)

An Ról a bhíonn ag Comhaltaí in Athshealbhuithe Tí

Tháinig an moladh seo as imscrúdú a bhain leis an ról tacaíochta a bhíonn ag comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána in athshealbhuithe tí. Mhol GSOC go n-eiseofaí treoir maidir le freastal gardaí ar athshealbhuithe maoine.

Rinneadh moladh den chineál céanna sa bhliain 2013


Fuarthas litir admhála ón Aonad Gnóthaí Inmheánacha an 24/09/2018

SR4 Imscrúdú faoi alt 94(1)/Athbhreithniú faoi alt 94(10)

An Rannóg um Chúnamh Frithpháirteach/Moill ar Iarratas a Dhéanamh ar Shonraí Cumarsáide

Tháinig an moladh seo as imscrúdú a rinne GSOC ar theachtaireachtaí maslacha agus bagracha a fuair an gearánach agus an bhean a raibh sé geallta léi trína gcuntais mheán sóisialta. Chuir an garda imscrúdaithe iarraidh faoi bhráid na Rannóige um Chúnamh Dlíthiúil Frithpháirteach, a d’inis dó go ndéanfadh sí faireachán ar an ní thar a cheann. Fuarthas freagra bliain amháin ina dhiaidh sin agus, sé mhí tar éis an freagra sin a fháil, rinne an garda iarratas ar shonraí faoi sheoltaí IP. Ní raibh na sonraí ar fáil a thuilleadh. Ba é an toradh a bhí ar an moill sa chás seo ná gur cailleadh fianaise ábhartha.

Mhol GSOC go ndéanfaí athbhreithniú ar na próisis atá ar bun laistigh den Rannóg um Chúnamh Frithpháirteach chun a chinntiú go ndéantar faireachán éifeachtach ar iarrataí ar shonraí cumarsáide agus, ar an mbealach sin, chun gur féidir aon fhiosruithe ina dhiaidh sin a thionscnamh laistigh den amscála a cheadaítear leis an reachtaíocht.


Fuarthas litir admhála ón Aonad Gnóthaí Inmheánacha an 25/10/2018

Rannán 6: Eolas a Thabhairt do Bheartas agus Cleachtas Póilíneachta an Gharda Síochána |

46 | Rannán 6: Eolas a Thabhairt do Bheartas agus Cleachtas Póilíneachta an Gharda Síochána

Ábhar ginearálta

Ábhar sonrach

Moladh agus freagra

SR5 Tarchur faoi alt 102

Caitheamh Criosanna Sábhála ag Comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána

Rinne GSOC imscrúdú tar éis imbhualadh tráchta ar bhóithre idir mótarfheithicil phríobháideach agus veain Gardaí. Deimhníodh i scrúdú ar na criosanna sábhála nach raibh crios sábhála ar an ngarda a bhí ina s(h)uí ar an suíochán paisinéara tráth an imbhuailte.

Molann GSOC go meabhródh an Garda Síochána do gach comhalta an ceanglas go gcuirfeadh siad criosanna sábhála orthu mar gheall ar an mbaol atá ann go bhfulaingeofaí gortú tromchúiseach agus mar gheall ar an eiseamláir ba cheart dóibh a thaispeáint do dhaoine den phobal maidir le forálacha na reachtaíochta um Thrácht ar Bhóithre a chomhlíonadh.


Ní bhfuarthas aon fhreagra faoin 31/12/2018

SR6 Imscrúdú Coiriúil

Taifid Choimeádta - Maoin a Thaifeadadh

Baineann an tsraith moltaí seo le trí imscrúdú ar leith a rinne GSOC. Cé go bhfuil difríochtaí beaga ann idir na trí chás, tharla sé i ngach ceann díobh nár tugadh maoin an phríosúnaigh go díreach don Chomhalta i gCeannas ná don Gharda Príosúin tráth na próiseála agus nár taifeadadh an mhaoin sa taifead coimeádta.

Molann GSOC:

• Go meabhrófaí do gach garda oibríochtúil an ceanglas atá ann taifead coimeádta atá cruinn agus iomlán a chomhlánú agus gur gá gach maoin a thógtar ó phríosúnach a thaifeadadh go cuí.

• Go meabhrófaí do gach garda gur cheart gach maoin a thaifeadadh ar an taifead coimeádta i láthair an phríosúnaigh agus gur cheart don phríosúnach an taifead a shíniú. I gcás go ndiúltaíonn an príosúnach an taifead a shíniú, ní mór é sin a thaifeadadh sa taifead coimeádta.

• Go n-eiseofaí treoir lena gcuirtear in iúl do gach garda gur cheart aon mhaoin a urghabhtar nó a thógtar ón bpríosúnach tar éis na próiseála tosaigh a thaifeadadh freisin sa taifead coimeádta. I gcás go ndiúltaíonn an príosúnach an taifead a shíniú, ba cheart é sin a thaifeadadh.

• Go meabhrófaí do gach garda an oibleagáid atá ann go síneodh príosúnach dá m(h)aoin a fháil ar ais agus, i gcás go ndiúltaíonn an príosúnach déanamh amhlaidh, gur cheart é sin a thaifeadadh.

• Go dtabharfaí treoir do gach garda gur cheart aon mhaoin a urghabhtar ó phríosúnach sula gcuirtear é/í i láthair an chomhalta i gceannas a dhoiciméadú i leabhar nótaí an chomhalta agus gur cheart fógra a thabhairt don chomhalta i gceannas faoi sin ionas gur féidir an mhaoin a thaifeadadh sa taifead coimeádta.

47Rannán 6: Eolas a Thabhairt do Bheartas agus Cleachtas Póilíneachta an Gharda Síochána |

Ábhar ginearálta

Ábhar sonrach

Moladh agus freagra

• Go ndéanfadh an Garda Síochána athbhreithniú ar fud na Rannán uile chun a fháil amach cé na cleachtais “inmheánacha” a tháinig chun cinn agus chun comhsheasmhacht a chinntiú ina leith sin. Chabhródh sé sin le laghdú a dhéanamh ar an líon líomhaintí faoi ghadaíocht a chuirtear faoi bhráid GSOC in aghaidh gardaí agus thabharfadh sé cosaint bhreise do chomhaltaí nuair a dhéantar líomhaintí den sórt sin.

• Go ndéanfadh an Garda Síochána breithniú ar mhálaí maoine séalaithe crioscaíldíonacha a thabhairt isteach lena n-úsáid chun maoin príosúnach a stóráil agus iad faoi choimeád.


Ní bhfuarthas aon fhreagra faoin 31/12/2018

SR7 Imscrúdú Coiriúil

Coimeád Taifead/Pleanáil agus Bainistíocht Oibríochtaí an Gharda Síochána

Rinne GSOC imscrúdú tar éis do ghardaí cuardach a dhéanamh ar theach an ghearánaigh. I measc na líomhaintí a rinneadh, luaigh an gearánach gur gortaíodh a mac le linn an chuardaigh agus gur theastaigh uaidh cóireáil san ospidéal mar thoradh ar na cneácha a d’fhulaing sé ón ngloine a damáistíodh nuair a bhris gardaí an bealach isteach sa teach. Cé go bhfuarthas amach nach raibh fianaise dhóthanach ann chun na líomhaintí coiriúla a chruthú, tháinig roinnt saincheisteanna chun cinn maidir leis an dóigh ar pleanáladh an oibríocht cuardaigh agus maidir leis na doiciméid a táirgeadh.

Molann GSOC:

• Gur cheart do gach garda oibríochtúil iontráil a dhéanamh ina leabhar nótaí maidir lena láithreacht le linn cuardaigh, ar iontráil í ina gcuirtear síos ar aon nithe a tháinig chun cinn.

• Go dtabharfaí treoir do gach garda oibríochtúil gur cheart don chomhalta iomchuí aon mhíreanna fianaiseacha nó aon mhíreanna a d’fhéadfadh a bheith fianaiseach a aimsíodh le linn cuardaigh a thaifeadadh ina leabhar nótaí féin, rud ina leagtar amach cén uair a aimsíodh an mhír agus cén áit ar aimsíodh í.

• Go n-eiseodh an Garda Síochána loga cuardaigh caighdeánaithe agus go n-eiseodh sé treoir lena gceanglaítear go n-úsáidfí an loga sin i ngach cuardach.

• Go meabhrófaí do gach garda na ceanglais atá i gcaibidil 8 de Bheartas Uileghabhálach an Gharda Síochána maidir le hÚsáid Fornirt, go háirithe sa mhéid gur cheart taifead cuí a dhéanamh ar na cruinnithe pleanála d’aon oibríocht bheartaithe ina mbeidh oifigigh faoi airm páirteach nó inar dóigh go n-úsáidfear forneart.

• Go meabhrófaí do gach garda an ceanglas atá i gcaibidil 8 de Bheartas Uileghabhálach an Gharda Síochána maidir le hÚsáid Fornirt, sa mhéid gur cheart plean oibríochta mionsonraithe agus ordú faisnéise oibríochta mionsonraithe a bheith ag gabháil le gach oibríocht bheartaithe agus gur cheart taifead cuí a dhéanamh ar gach cruinniú faisnéise.

48 | Rannán 6: Eolas a Thabhairt do Bheartas agus Cleachtas Póilíneachta an Gharda Síochána

Ábhar ginearálta

Ábhar sonrach

Moladh agus freagra

• Go ndéanfadh an Garda Síochána breithniú ar theimpléid ordaithe oibríochta a leasú chun go n-áireofaí leo seicliosta trealaimh a bhfuil mar aidhm leis a dheimhniú gur seiceáladh aon trealamh bearnaithe agus go bhfuil sé in ord oibre sula n-úsáidtear é.


Fuarthas litir admhála ón Aonad Gnóthaí Inmheánacha an 28/02/2019, inar luadh gur cuireadh na moltaí ó GSOC ar aghaidh chuig an gCoimisinéir Cúnta um Shlándáil agus Faisnéis agus chuig daoine eile lena mbreithniú agus go gcuirfí GSOC ar an eolas faoi aon ghníomh a dhéanfaí de bhun na moltaí sin

49Rannán 7: Nochtadh Cosanta |

I mí an Mhárta 2018, sannadh na chéad imscrúdaitheoirí lánaimseartha de chuid GSOC don Aonad nuabhunaithe um Nochtadh Cosanta tar éis próiseas earcaíochta a reáchtáil an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí.

Thug an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe ceadú an bhliain roimhe sin (2017) le haghaidh cúigear ball foirne a cheapadh chuig an aonad agus tugadh údarás le haghaidh cúigear eile a earcú chuig an aonad ina dhiaidh sin i mí na Samhna 2018.

Bhí ceathrar oifigeach imscrúdaithe ann san aonad ag deireadh na bliana, lenar áiríodh an t-oifigeach imscrúdaithe sinsearach atá i gceannas ar an aonad agus a bhí ag obair le GSOC cheana féin agus ball foirne tacaíochta amháin nach ndéileálann ach le nochtaí cosanta. Rachaidh cúigear imscrúdaitheoirí eile agus anailísí amháin isteach san aonad sa bhliain 2019.

Shainaithin an Coimisiún Ombudsman roimhe sin go raibh aonad ar leith ag teastáil laistigh de GSOC, ar aonad é a dhéileálfadh le nochtaí cosanta ach nach ndéileálfadh le haon ghearáin eile a dhéantar ar an ngnáthbhealach le GSOC. Is go díreach don triúr Coimisinéirí Ombudsman a dhéanann Gardaí agus fostaithe eile den Gharda Síochána nochtadh cosanta. Próiseáiltear an nochtadh laistigh den Aonad um Nochtadh Cosanta ansin.

FIGIÚIRÍCeanglaítear le halt 22 den Acht um Nochtadh Cosanta, 2014, ar gach comhlacht poiblí tuarascáil bhliantúil a fhoilsiú ina leagtar amach an líon nochtaí cosanta a fuarthas sa bhliain roimhe.

Sa bhliain 2018, rinne comhaltaí agus/nó fostaithe den Gharda Síochána 24 nochtadh chosanta do GSOC faoi ailt 7 agus 8 den Acht um Nochtadh Cosanta. Ós rud é go raibh 25 nochtadh chosanta fós á scrúdú nó á n-imscrúdú ag deireadh na bliana 2017, bhí 49 gcinn san iomlán ar láimh sa bhliain 2018.

Scoireadh de 13 cinn le linn na bliana. Féadfaidh GSOC scor de nochtadh má chinneann sé, tar éis scrúdú a dhéanamh air, nach dtagann an ní faoi na paraiméadair atá leagtha amach in alt 5(3) den Acht um Nochtadh Cosanta, 2014, ina

mionsonraítear na ‘héagóiritheoireachtaí’ iomchuí a chumhdaítear leis an reachtaíocht.

Féadfaidh sé a chinneadh freisin nach bhfuil sé riachtanach ná indéanta le réasún dul ar aghaidh i gcás go bhfuil an ní lena mbaineann á imscrúdú ag gníomhaireacht reachtúil cheana féin nó i gcás gur cuireadh faisnéis faoin ní ar fáil sa réimse poiblí cheana féin trí phróiseas amhail imeachtaí cúirte. Féadfar scor de nochtadh freisin i gcás go mbaineann sé le nithe nach bhfuil aon chumhachtaí imscrúdaitheacha reachtúla ag GSOC ina leith.

Féadfar scor de nithe ag aon am tar éis don duine a rinne an nochtadh tarraingt siar as an bpróiseas nó stopadh ag glacadh páirt ann.

Bhí na 36 nochtadh chosanta eile fós á scrúdú nó á n-imscrúdú ag deireadh na bliana 2018.

BAILL FOIRNE GSOC AGUS NOCHTADH COSANTASa bhliain 2016, chuir GSOC beartas agus nósanna imeachta ar bun trína bhféadfadh a bhaill foirne féin nochtadh a dhéanamh faoin Acht um Nochtadh Cosanta, 2014.

Ní bhfuarthas aon nochtaí inmheánacha sa bhliain 2018. Ní bhfuarthas aon chinn le linn na mblianta 2014, 2015, 2016 ná 2017 ach oiread.

RANNÁN 7: NOCHTADH COSANTA

50

RANNÁN 8: AN RIALACHÁN GINEARÁLTA MAIDIR LE COSAINT SONRAÍ AGUS ROCHTAIN AR SHONRAÍ

ar aghaidh lena chuid oibre le linn na bliana 2018 agus bhí sé fós i mbun oibre i dtús na bliana 2019. Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Aonad um Chosaint Sonraí ach ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig [email protected].

SAORÁIL FAISNÉISE AGUS IARRATAÍ EILE AR FHAISNÉIS Mar aon le faisnéis a thabhairt faoin reachtaíocht cosanta sonraí, tá GSOC faoi réir an Achta um Shaoráil Faisnéise, 2014, go páirteach freisin agus déileálann sé go rialta le hiarrataí ar fhaisnéis a dhéantar faoin Acht sin.

Fuarthas iarrataí ar chineálacha éagsúla faisnéise sa bhliain 2018, lenar áiríodh staitisticí maidir le scaoileadh arm tine gardaí, staitisticí maidir le gearáin, comhfhreagras idir GSOC agus comhlachtaí poiblí eile, agus faisnéis ó cháschomhaid shonracha. Tháinig na hiarrataí ó fhoinsí difriúla – ba ó iriseoirí, ó dhaoine den phobal agus ó ghearánaigh a fuarthas a bhformhór. Phróiseáil GSOC 47 n-iarraidh Saorála Faisnéise san iomlán sa bhliain 2018.

Tugann GSOC faisnéis don phobal freisin trí na huiríll a dhéanann comhaltaí den Oireachtas go díreach do GSOC nó tríd an bpróiseas ceisteanna parlaiminte.

Déanann GSOC idirchaidreamh rialta leis an Rannán Póilíneachta sa Roinn Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais chun faisnéis den sórt sin a thabhairt. Tá an líon iarrataí ar fhaisnéis a fuarthas sa bhliain 2018 leagtha amach thíos.

Tábla 6: Iarrataí ar fhaisnéis a próiseáladh sa bhliain 2018

Iarrataí faoi na hAchtanna um Chosaint Sonraí, 2003 agus 2018

65

Iarrataí faoin Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise, 2014

47

Uiríll ó chomhaltaí den Oireachtas

16

Ceisteanna ó na Meáin 208

Freagraí ar Cheisteanna Parlaiminte

59

AN RIALACHÁN GINEARÁLTA MAIDIR LE COSAINT SONRAÍ Tháinig an Rialachán Ginearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí i bhfeidhm an 25 Bealtaine 2018 agus tá feidhm aige maidir le próiseáil sonraí pearsanta laistigh den Aontas Eorpach. Ós rud é go bpróiseálann GSOC faisnéis phearsanta chun críocha imscrúduithe coiriúla, tá sé faoi réir na Treorach maidir le Cosaint Sonraí i réimse Fhorfheidhmiú an Dlí freisin. Tá feidhm ag an Treoir sin maidir le próiseáil sonraí pearsanta ag rialaitheoirí sonraí atá inniúil ar chionta coiriúla a imscrúdú, a bhrath, a chosc nó a ionchúiseamh. Leis an Acht um Chosaint Sonraí, 2018, tugtar tuilleadh éifeachta don Rialachán Ginearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí agus déantar an Treoir maidir le Cosaint Sonraí i réimse Fhorfheidhmiú an Dlí a thrasuí i ndlí na hÉireann. Sa bhliain 2017, thosaigh GSOC ag obair chun oibleagáidí agus ceanglais an chórais nua chosanta sonraí sin a chomhlíonadh, agus lean sé leis an obair sin ar fud na bliana 2018.

Ceapadh Oifigeach Cosanta Sonraí i mí na Bealtaine 2018.

Tá an tOifigeach Cosanta Sonraí freagrach as fógra agus treoir a thabhairt do bhaill foirne GSOC agus don Choimisiún araon maidir leis na hoibleagáidí atá orthu faoin dlí cosanta sonraí, as idirchaidreamh a dhéanamh le hoifig an Choimisiúin um Chosaint Sonraí, de réir mar is gá, agus as gníomhú mar phointe teagmhála do gach ábhar sonraí.

D’iarr GSOC acmhainní breise chun tacú leis an ról sin sa chás gnó a seoladh chuig an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais (agus a ceadaíodh ina dhiaidh sin) d’fhonn Aonad um Chosaint Sonraí agus Saoráil Faisnéise a bhunú go luath sa bhliain 2019. Lean Grúpa Cur Chun Feidhme an Rialacháin Ghinearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí ar aghaidh lena chuid oibre le linn na bliana. Mar chuid den obair sin, rinne sé próisis láimhseála sonraí GSOC a léarscáiliú, a chainníochtú, a athbhreithniú agus a leasú; rinne sé a bheartais chosanta sonraí agus a nósanna imeachta cosanta sonraí féin a athbhreithniú; agus rinne sé ár bhfoirm gearáin chaighdeánach, ár bhfógraí príobháideachta agus an t-ábhar ar ár suíomh Gréasáin a athdhréachtú.

Tugadh cur i láthair ar an Rialachán Ginearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí don fhoireann ar fad le linn na bliana. Áirithíodh cúrsa i bhFeasacht ar an Rialachán Ginearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí san Áit Oibre freisin agus soláthrófar é sin don fhoireann ar fad ar bhonn éigeantach sa bhliain 2019. Lean an Grúpa Cur Chun Feidhme

| Rannán 8: An Rialachán Ginearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí agus Rochtain ar Shonraí

51

na painéil sin arís eile sa bhliain 2019 chun na baill foirne riaracháin bhreise dá bhforáiltear sa cheadú a earcú.

FOGHLAIM AGUS FORBAIRTLean an Coimisiún Ombudsman le bheith tiomanta dá fhoireann a oiliúint, a uasoiliúint agus a fhorbairt sa bhliain 2018. A bhuí leis an obair a rinne Bainisteoir Foghlama agus Forbartha GSOC, a bhfuil a ról ar leithligh ón bhfeidhm acmhainní daonna i gcoitinne, bhíothas in ann freastal ar na riachtanais a bhí ag baill foirne GSOC le rochtain mhéadaithe a fháil ar dheiseanna foghlama agus forbartha. Taobh amuigh dár gclár oiliúna inmheánaí féin a phleanáil agus a chur chun feidhme, bhí baill foirne GSOC in ann leas a bhaint freisin as an tsraith clár a oibríonn Seirbhís Chomhroinnte an Aon Fhoghlama Amháin faoi Phlean Athnuachana na Státseirbhíse 2014. Sa bhliain 2018, d’éascaigh an tAonad Foghlama agus Forbartha 26 cinn de chúrsaí nó cláir oiliúna do bhaill foirne GSOC. Ba faoi Chreat an Aon Fhoghlama Amháin a soláthraíodh 15 cinn díobh sin. D’fhreastail 73 dhuine dár 95 bhall foirne (triúr Coimisinéirí ina measc) ar cheann amháin ar a laghad de na cúrsaí sin. Is ionann é sin agus 80 faoin gcéad den fhoireann ar fad.

Áiríodh iad seo a leanas leis na cineálacha oiliúna is suntasaí a soláthraíodh do bhaill foirne GSOC sa bhliain 2018:

• Oiliúint feasachta i dTús Áite do Leanaí (54 bhall foirne sa Stiúrthóireacht Oibríochtaí)

• Oiliúint do Theagmhálaithe Ainmnithe (14 bhall foirne sa Stiúrthóireacht Oibríochtaí)

• Oiliúint in Agallóireacht Imscrúdaitheach (imscrúdaitheoirí)

• Oiliúint i nGrianghrafadóireacht Gortuithe (seisear cásoibrithe – oiliúint inmheánach)

• Oiliúint i gCosaint Sonraí do Rialaitheoirí Sonraí (beirt bhall foirne)

• Bonnchúrsa oiliúna ITIL (ball foirne TF amháin)

• Oiliúint in SharePoint 2013 d’Úinéirí Suímh (baill foirne éagsúla).

Chuir bainisteoirí líne GSOC cláir i gCeannaireacht Feidhmiúcháin agus i bhForbairt Bainistíochta i gcrích sa bhliain 2018. Thug roinnt ball foirne de chuid GSOC faoi chúrsaí oideachais agus oiliúna lasmuigh den obair freisin, de réir na scéime um aisíoc táillí dá bhforáiltear faoi Chiorclán 23/2007 ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe.

LÍON FOIRNEAg an 31 Nollaig 2018, bhí 92 bhall foirne ann in GSOC, dá raibh 22 dhuine fostaithe sa Stiúrthóireacht Riaracháin agus dá raibh 70 duine fostaithe sa Stiúrthóireacht Oibríochtaí. Bhí beirt oifigeach imscrúduithe de chuid GSOC ar iasacht don Bhinse um Nochtaí Cosanta ar feadh na bliana ar fad.

Mar aon leis an líon foirne sin, ba ag GSOC freisin a bhí triúr Coimisinéirí, beirt chonraitheoirí TFC agus duine amháin a bhí conraithe chun seirbhísí meán agus cumarsáide a sholáthar.

Chuir GSOC cás gnó faoi bhráid na Roinne Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais agus na Roinne Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe i mí Feabhra 2018, rud inar leagadh amach an gá práinneach a bhí aige le baill foirne bhreise ionas go bhféadfadh sé a shainchúram reatha a chomhlíonadh. Pléadh go príomha sa doiciméad sin leis an riachtanas láithreach a bhí ag GSOC le 37 mball foirne bhreise, dá raibh 24 dhuine ag teastáil chun croífheidhm na heagraíochta a chur i gcrích – is é sin, gearáin a láimhseáil agus a imscrúdú – agus dá raibh 13 dhuine ag teastáil sna róil riaracháin agus tacaíochta a tháinig chun cinn le blianta beaga anuas. Tugadh sa doiciméad freisin sonraí faoi na hacmhainní breise a bheadh ag teastáil dá dtabharfaí isteach roinnt nó gach ceann de na hathruithe reachtacha a mhol GSOC roimhe sin.

Chuathas i mbun díospóireachta leis an dá Roinn ar fud na bliana 2018, ar lena linn a d’iarr GSOC cúigear ball foirne eile chun obair san Aonad nuabhunaithe um Nochtadh Cosanta. An 2 Samhain 2018, dheimhnigh an tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais i scríbhinn go bhfuarthas ceadú ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe do gach duine den 42 bhall foirne a d’iarr GSOC a cheapadh.

Chuir GSOC tús láithreach le socruithe a dhéanamh do na baill foirne bhreise sin a earcú agus tá sé beartaithe go mbeidh gach duine den 42 bhall foirne fostaithe a luaithe is féidir sa bhliain 2019. I dtaca leis sin, agus toisc gur chuir an eagraíocht a cás gnó isteach cheana féin, sheol an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí feachtas thar ceann GSOC sa bhliain 2018 chun painéil a bhunú óna bhféadfadh GSOC na hoifigigh imscrúduithe bhreise dá bhforáiltear sa cheadú a earcú.

D’earcaigh GSOC roinnt ball foirne nua ó phainéil oscailte na Seirbhíse um Cheapacháin Phoiblí chun folúntais a líonadh laistigh de Stiúrthóireacht Riaracháin GSOC sa bhliain 2018 agus úsáidfimid

RANNÁN 9: AN FHOIREANN

Rannán 9: An Fhoireann |

52

Sa chiorclán sin, leagtar amach socruithe a bhfuil mar aidhm leo cabhrú le Ranna agus Oifigí Rialtais leibhéil chuí scileanna agus saineolais a fhorbairt agus tacú le hoifigigh dul i mbun féinfhorbartha agus foghlaim ar feadh an tsaoil. Agus é ag tacú le baill foirne ar an mbealach sin, léiríonn GSOC go bhfuil sé tiomanta do scileanna nua agus bealaí oibre nua a fhorbairt go leanúnach chun feabhas a chur ar fheidhmíocht laistigh den eagraíocht agus aithníonn sé go bhfuil fiúntas ag baint le hinfheistíocht a dhéanamh i bhforbairt gairme a chuid ball foirne.

| Section Title Here

Triúr Coimisinéirí(Cathaoirleach amháin)

Stiúrthóir Oibríochtaí

Tacaíocht Cásoibre agus Imscrúduithe (25)

An tAonad um Nochtadh Cosanta

(5)

Stiúrthóir Riaracháin*

Seirbhísí Corparáideacha, Airgeadas, Acmhainní Daonna, TFC, Beartas,

Cumarsáid agus Taighde (18)

Gnóthaí Dlí (4)Imscrúduithe (39)

Cairt 7: Leithdháileadh Acmhainní Daonna agus Struchtúr Eagrúcháin

* Chuaigh an Stiúrthóir Riaracháin ar scor roimh dheireadh na bliana.

53

CONCLÚID

Sa bhliain 2018, foilsíodh an Tuarascáil ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta in Éirinn. Moladh go háirithe inti go ndéanfadh comhlacht gearáin leathnaithe, ar tugadh Oifig Neamhspleách an Ombudsman Póilíní air sa Tuarascáil, imscrúdú ar gach gearán faoi mhí-iompar líomhnaithe ag comhaltaí agus baill foirne is sibhialtaigh den Gharda Síochána.

Fuair GSOC ceadú le haghaidh baill foirne bhreise a earcú freisin, mar a bhí leagtha amach sa Chás Gnó a cuireadh isteach sa bhliain 2018, agus bhí roinnt den 42 bhall foirne bhreise sin i mbun a bpoist san eagraíocht faoi dheireadh na bliana.

Thosaigh an tAonad um Nochtadh Cosanta ar a sholáthar foirne féin a leathnú agus, dá bharr sin, bhí sé in ann tosú ag déileáil leis an riaráiste imscrúduithe a tháinig chun cinn sna blianta roimhe.

Áirithíodh oifig bhuan don fhoireann i gCorcaigh freisin agus bhí an t-áitreabh ar an Linn Dubh réidh lena áitiú faoi dheireadh na bliana.

Thug an Coimisiún Ombudsman faoi deara gur ghlac an Rialtas an Tuarascáil ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta in Éirinn an 18 Nollaig 2018, go háirithe na moltaí maidir le formhaoirseacht ar ghearáin. Táthar ag súil leis go mbeidh na blianta 2019 agus 2020 ina gcinn ghnóthacha do GSOC, agus é ag aistriú ina eagraíocht nua a mbeidh sainordú méadaithe aige.

Chuaigh an tUas. Patrick Sullivan isteach sa Choimisiún i mí Iúil 2018. Agus é ag teacht ó Washington D.C., tá mórthaithí aige ar imscrúduithe agus formhaoirseacht a dhéanamh. Is aigesean freisin atá smaointe nua maidir le struchtúir formhaoirseachta agus maidir leis an ngá atá ann le feabhas a chur ar an gcumarsáid idir an Garda Síochána agus GSOC.

Bhuail GSOC le Drew Harris, Coimisinéir nua an Gharda Síochána, díreach tar éis dó dul i mbun an phoist i mí Mheán Fómhair 2018. Tugadh faoi deara go bhfuil taithí aige ar a bheith ag déileáil leis an Ombudsman Póilíní do Thuaisceart Éireann, a bhfuil baint againn leis, ó bunaíodh an eagraíocht sin sa bhliain 2000. Ghabh an Coimisiún buíochas le Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána as bualadh linn ag céim chomh luath sin ina thionacht agus táthar ag súil leis go rannchuideoidh an taithí atá aige ar fhormhaoirseacht i dTuaisceart Éireann le caidreamh dearfach a chothú le GSOC sa todhchaí.

Leanann an chomhroinnt faisnéise idir an Garda Síochána agus GSOC le dúshláin a chruthú gach lá. Má tá GSOC chun imscrúduithe a chur ar aghaidh go rianúil, tá sé ríthábhachtach go gcuirfí aon fhaisnéis ábhartha a shealbhaíonn an Garda Síochána ar fáil go pras d’fhoirne imscrúduithe. Tá sé tábhachtach go ndéanfaí an méid sin, ní amháin ar mhaithe le bheith cothrom do dhaoine den phobal, ach ar mhaithe le bheith cothrom do na gardaí is ábhar do ghearáin freisin.

Nuair a bhíonn moilleanna ann ar an bhfaisnéis a thabhairt nó nuair a bhíonn teip ann an fhaisnéis a thabhairt, is amhlaidh go gcuirtear fad le himscrúduithe agus, dá bharr sin, go gcuirtear isteach arís eile ar na páirtithe uile lena mbaineann. Tá sé beartaithe ag GSOC an tsaincheist sin a shaothrú sa bhliain 2019 d’fhonn teacht ar nósanna imeachta comhaontaithe lena laghdófar an t-am a thógtar chun imscrúduithe a chríochnú agus lena n-éascófar formhaoirseacht chuí ag an am céanna.

Ábhar imní leanúnach do GSOC is ea an teip fógra a thabhairt dó faoi ghearáin a dhéantar in aghaidh comhaltaí den Gharda Síochána. Go deimhin, tharla sé san am atá thart go raibh na meáin in ann fógra a thabhairt don phobal agus do GSOC araon faoi mhí-iompar líomhnaithe, i gcás nach bhfuair GSOC aon fhógra den sórt sin ón nGarda Síochána cheana féin.

Nuair a dhéanann Gardaí imscrúdú orthu féin, bíonn an baol ann nach measfar an t-imscrúdú a bheith iomlán ná cothrom. Cé gur féidir go gcuirfidh sé sin droch-chomaoin ar na himscrúdaitheoirí lena mbaineann, fágann an Garda Síochána é féin neamhchosanta ar agóidí de bharr na heaspa formhaoirseachta a dhéantar ar imscrúduithe den sórt sin. Tá sé chun leas na ngardaí a bheith in ann a dheimhniú nach ndéanann siad imscrúdú orthu féin ionas nach mbeifear in ann a líomhain go raibh forcheilt ann i gcás go gcinnfear gan comhalta a ionchúiseamh nó gan smacht a chur air/uirthi i leith mí-iompar líomhnaithe.

Tá sé beartaithe ag GSOC an tsaincheist sin a shaothrú freisin sa bhliain 2019, go háirithe toisc go bhfuil reachtaíocht nua á dréachtú ina leith faoi láthair agus mar gheall ar an moladh ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta in Éirinn gur cheart don chomhlacht formhaoirseachta nua imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar gach gearán.

Section Title Here |

54

RIALACHASI mí an Mhárta 2018, rinne an Cathaoirleach ar Choimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána agus Ard-Rúnaí Gníomhach na Roinne Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais ag an am Comhaontú Dearbhaithe Rialachais Chorparáidigh a shíniú idir an Coimisiún agus an Roinn. Leagtar amach sa Chomhaontú sin an creat leathan rialachais chorparáidigh ar laistigh de a oibríonn GSOC agus sainítear ann na príomhróil agus na príomhfhreagrachtaí atá mar bhonn agus thaca ag an gcaidreamh idir GSOC agus an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais. Leagtar amach ann freisin na socruithe a leanfar chun GSOC a rialú, a chistiú agus a riar go héifeachtach de réir an Chóid Cleachtais do Rialachas Comhlachtaí Stáit (2016). Comhaontaíodh aon mhaoluithe ar an gCód nó aon eisceachtaí uaidh leis an Roinn agus tá siad leagtha amach sa Chomhaontú Dearbhaithe Rialachais Chorparáidigh.

An Coimisiún OmbudsmanCoimisiún triúir is ea an Coimisiún Ombudsman, a chuimsíonn beirt Choimisinéirí agus Cathaoirleach amháin. Ní mór fear amháin ar a laghad agus bean amháin ar a laghad a bheith ar an gCoimisiún. Ní mór don Uachtarán gach comhalta den Choimisiún Ombudsman a cheapadh, tar éis don Rialtas iad a ainmniú agus tar éis don dá Theach den Oireachtas rúin lena moltar a gceapachán a rith. Ceaptar duine amháin de na comhaltaí den Choimisiún Ombudsman mar Chathaoirleach.

Chuimsigh an Coimisiún Ombudsman na daoine seo a leanas sa bhliain 2018: An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring (Cathaoirleach), an tUas. Kieran FitzGerald, agus an tUas. Patrick Sullivan (chuaigh an tUas. Sullivan i mbun an róil i mí Iúil 2018). Chuimsigh an Fhoireann Ardbhainistíochta na daoine seo a leanas: an tUas. Anthony Duggan, an Stiúrthóir Riaracháin (chuaigh an tUas. Duggan ar scor ó GSOC i mí na Samhna 2018); an tUas. Darren Wright, an Stiúrthóir Oibríochtaí; an tUas. Garrett Croke, Leas-Stiúrthóir Oibríochtaí; agus Niamh McKeague Uas., Ceann Gnóthaí Dlí.

Cruinnithe agus Nithe lena gCinneadh ag an gCoimisiún OmbudsmanBuaileann an Coimisiún Ombudsman go foirmiúil leis an bhFoireann Ardbhainistíochta uair amháin ar a laghad sa mhí, seachas i mí Lúnasa, chun a chuid dualgas a chomhlíonadh (Féach Tábla A chun amharc ar sceideal de na cruinnithe a tionóladh sa bhliain 2018). Tá oibleagáid

air a chinntiú go bhfuiltear ag comhlíonadh na gceanglas reachtúil agus riaracháin a bhaineann leis an líon ball foirne agus grádú agus coinníollacha ceapacháin na mball foirne go léir a cheadú. Bhuail an Coimisiún Ombudsman agus an Fhoireann Ardbhainistíochta lena chéile 11 uair sa bhliain 2018. Déanann an Coimisiún Ombudsman cinntí ar na nithe seo a leanas:

• Tionscadail chaipitil;• Leibhéil údaráis tharmligthe, beartais

bhainistíochta airgeadais agus beartais bhainistíochta riosca;

• Téarmaí mórchonarthaí a cheadú;• Ceannacháin shuntasacha agus diúscairtí

suntasacha a dhéanamh agus scor de shócmhainní GSOC;

• Buiséid bhliantúla a cheadú;• Dearbhú a thabhairt go bhfuiltear ag

comhlíonadh na gceanglas reachtúil agus riaracháin a bhaineann leis an líon ball foirne agus grádú agus coinníollacha ceapacháin na mball foirne go léir a cheadú;

• Ráitis Straitéise a cheadú; agus • Tuarascálacha bliantúla agus cuntais a

tháirgeadh.

Freagrachtaí agus CuspóiríLeagtar amach in alt 65 go halt 67 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána comhaltas, téarmaí agus coinníollacha, socruithe ceapacháin, feidhmeanna agus cuspóirí an Choimisiúin Ombudsman. Mar aon lena chuid feidhmeanna agus cuspóirí reachtúla, áirítear iad seo a leanas leis na freagrachtaí eile atá air:

• rath GSOC a chur chun cinn trína chuid gníomhaíochtaí a stiúradh agus a threorú;

• treoir straitéiseach a thabhairt do GSOC agus, ag an am céanna, faireachán agus maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar an dóigh a gcomhlíonann sé na feidhmeanna tarmligthe atá aige;

• an treo straitéiseach, mórphleananna gníomhaíochta, beartais bhainistíochta riosca agus nósanna imeachta bainistíochta riosca, buiséid bhliantúla agus pleananna gnó a athbhreithniú agus a threorú, cuspóirí feidhmíochta a leagan síos, faireachán a dhéanamh ar chur chun feidhme agus ar fheidhmíocht, agus maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar chinntí maidir le mórchaiteachas caipitil;

• gníomhú ar bhonn láneolach agus eiticiúil, de mheon macánta, le dícheall agus cúram cuí agus chun leas GSOC, faoi réir na gcuspóirí a leagann an Rialtas síos;

AGUISÍN 1: RIALACHAS, AIRGEADAS AGUS RIALUITHE INMHEÁNACHA

| Aguisín 1: Rialachas, Airgeadas agus Rialuithe Inmheánacha

55

Meastóireacht FeidhmíochtaChuir an Coimisiún Ombudsman tús le hAthbhreithniú Féinmheasúnaithe Éifeachtachta agus Meastóireachta ar a fheidhmíocht féin sa bhliain 2018. Críochnófar an t-athbhreithniú go luath sa bhliain 2019.

• forbairt acmhainn GSOC a chur chun cinn, lena n-áirítear inniúlacht an lucht ceannaireachta agus na foirne; agus

• an lucht ardbhainistíochta a choimeád cuntasach as comhlíonadh éifeachtach a chuid feidhmeanna agus freagrachtaí tarmligthe.

Tábla A: Dátaí agus freastal ar Chruinnithe an Choimisiúin.

16 Eanáir 2018 An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGeraldAn tUas. Anthony Duggan

An tUas. Darren WrightNiamh McKeague Uas.

13 Feabhra 2018 An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGeraldAn tUas. Anthony Duggan

An tUas. Garrett CrokeSuzanne Hackett Uas.

13 Márta 2018 An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGeraldAn tUas. Anthony Duggan

An tUas. Darren WrightAn tUas. Thomas Flanagan

10 Aibreán 2018 An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGerald


8 Bealtaine 2018 An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGerald

An tUas. Garrett CrokeNiamh McKeague Uas.

12 Meitheamh 2018 An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGerald


10 Iúil 2018 An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGeraldAn tUas. Patrick Sullivan

An tUas. Darren WrightSuzanne Hackett Uas.

11 Meán Fómhair 2018

An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGeraldAn tUas. Patrick Sullivan


9 Deireadh Fómhair 2018

An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGeraldAn tUas. Patrick Sullivan


13 Samhain 2018 An Dr Kieran FitzGeraldAn tUas. Patrick Sullivan

An tUas. Garrett CrokeNiamh McKeague Uas.

11 Nollaig 2018 An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring An Dr Kieran FitzGeraldAn tUas. Patrick Sullivan

An tUas. Darren Wright

Aguisín 1: Rialachas, Airgeadas agus Rialuithe Inmheánacha |

56

AIRGEADASCistítear GSOC trí dheontas bliantúil a fháil ó Vóta na Roinne Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais. Is é Ard-Rúnaí na Roinne an tOifigeach Cuntasaíochta do GSOC. I gcomhar leis an Oifigeach Cuntasaíochta, tá an Cathaoirleach freagrach as cuntais GSOC a ullmhú.

Ceanglaítear le halt 77 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005, ar Choimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána na cuntais go léir is cuí agus is gnách ar an airgead ar fad a fhaigheann sé agus a chaitheann sé a choimeád i cibé foirm a cheadóidh an tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais le toiliú an Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe. Tá an Coimisiún freagrach as taifid chuí chuntasaíochta a choimeád, ina gcuirtear a staid airgeadais in iúl le cruinneas réasúnta ag am ar bith agus lena gcuirtear ar a chumas a chinntiú go gcloíonn na ráitis airgeadais le halt 77 d’Acht an Gharda Síochána, 2005.

Ag féachaint do mhéid an Choimisiúin Ombudsman, ní mheastar go bhfuil sé indéanta aige a fheidhm Iniúchóireachta Inmheánaí ná a Choiste Iniúchóireachta agus Riosca féin a bhunú. Le toiliú an Aire/na Roinne, cuireadh socruithe malartacha i bhfeidhm chun rochtain a thabhairt do GSOC ar Aonad Iniúchóireachta Inmheánaí agus Coiste Iniúchóireachta agus Riosca na Roinne. Is í an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais a shealbhaíonn téarmaí tagartha an Choiste Iniúchóireachta agus Riosca.

Ina theannta sin, bíonn GSOC faoi réir iniúchadh bliantúil ag an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste. Tá próiseas inmheánach bainistíochta riosca i bhfeidhm aige, rud a ndéanann Oifigeach Bainistíochta Riosca agus Grúpa Faireacháin ar Bhainistíocht Riosca maoirseacht air.

Maidir le caiteachas ginearálta, ba ghá do GSOC tabhairt faoi obair cothabhála riachtanach ar a fhoirgneamh ar chostas iomlán €119,494 le linn na bliana. Áiríodh leis na costais sin an obair deisiúcháin riachtanach a rinneadh ar an gcóras aerchóirithe in oifigí GSOC ag 150 Sráid na Mainistreach Uachtarach, Baile Átha Cliath 1, d’fhonn feidhmiú cuí an chórais a chinntiú agus aon rioscaí sláinte agus sábháilteachta a chosc.

Tar éis próiseas soláthair cuí, shainaithin GSOC cóiríocht oifige oiriúnach ag Aonad 4D, An tAitriam, Páirc Miondíola agus Oifige na Linne Duibhe, an Linn Dubh, Corcaigh, go luath sa bhliain 2018. Is cóiríocht é sin a chomhlíonann go hiomlán na sonraíochtaí a theastaíonn dá

fhoireann imscrúduithe don réigiún theas. Tar éis na ceaduithe riachtanacha a fháil ón Roinn Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais agus ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe, chomhaontaigh GSOC léas deich mbliana don spás oifige sin. Bhog an fhoireann imscrúduithe don réigiún theas isteach san áitreabh ag deireadh mhí na Samhna 2018.

Soláthraítear sa spás oifige nua sin cóiríocht ar ardchaighdeán do na baill foirne de chuid GSOC atá sannta don fhoireann. Tá sé lonnaithe in áitreabh slán nua-aimseartha ina bhfuil seomraí agallaimh oiriúnacha (lena n-áirítear iad sin atá oiriúnach d’íospartaigh agus do leanaí) agus teicneolaíocht faisnéise, cumarsáide agus líonraithe ar ardchaighdeán lena gcumasaítear don fhoireann a cuid oibre a dhéanamh ar bhealach níos éifeachtaí agus níos éifeachtúla.

Is lándeimhin leis an gCoimisiún go bhfuil an spás oifige sin ar an gceann is fearr atá ar fáil agus ar an rogha is indéanta maidir le réiteach fadtéarmach a thabhairt ar na riachtanais chóiríochta atá ag an bhfoireann imscrúduithe don réigiún theas. Fágann sé freisin gur féidir le GSOC a oibríochtaí a fheabhsú agus, más gá, a leathnú sa limistéar theas den tír i gcoitinne agus an méid sin a dhéanamh de réir leibhéil nár measadh a bheith indéanta roimhe sin. Beidh sé sin ina thoisc thábhachtach sa todhchaí agus sinn ag pleanáil don mhór-bhunathrú struchtúrtha agus feidhmiúil a dhéanfar ar GSOC thar an gcéad chúpla bliain eile mar thoradh ar an reachtaíocht nua a cheadaigh an Rialtas de bhun na moltaí a rinne an Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta in Éirinn sa bhliain 2018.

Chinntigh an Coimisiún Ombudsman gur chomhlíon GSOC an Cód Caiteachais Phoiblí ina iomláine ar fud na bliana 2018.

| Aguisín 1: Rialachas, Airgeadas agus Rialuithe Inmheánacha

57

Tábla C: Miondealú ar shochair fostaithe:

€60,000 - €69,999 13 17

€70,000 - €79,999 11 7

€80,000 - €89,999 4 3

€90,000 - €99,999 3 2

€100,000 - €109,999 1 -

€110,000 - €119,999 - 1

€120,000 - €129,999 1 2

€130,000 - €139,999 1 1

€140,000 - €149,999 1 0

* Áirítear leis na figiúirí don bhliain 2018 tuarastal, liúntais ragoibre, agus íocaíochtaí eile a rinneadh thar ceann an fhostaí. Ní áirítear ÁSPC ón bhfostóir leo, áfach.

TÁILLÍ NACH BHFUIL BAINTEACH LE TUARASTAILBa é NIALAS luach na dtáillí nach bhfuil bainteach le tuarastail a íocadh le comhaltaí den Choimisiún Ombudsman don bhliain 2018.

AN PRÍOMHPHEARSANRA BAINISTÍOCHTAB’ionann agus €452,647 luach iomlán na dtuarastal a d’íoc Coimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána le príomhphearsanra bainistíochta le linn na bliana.

COSTAIS CHOMHAIRLEACHTA Áirítear le costais chomhairleachta an costas ar chomhairle sheachtrach a chur ar an lucht bainistíochta. Ní áirítear leo an costas ar fheidhmeanna seachfhoinsithe ‘gnáthghnó’. Ba é €145,415 an costas iomlán don bhliain 2018.

Tábla B: Caiteachas GSOC sa bhliain 2018.

Tuarastal, Pá agus Liúntais €6,063,292.00 A01 - Pá agus Liúntais €6,066,188.35

Neamhphá €3,984,708

A02 - Taisteal agus Cothú €121,125.28

A03 - Costais Theagmhasacha

€803,733.79

A04 - Seirbhísí Poist agus Teileachumarsáide

€131,534.78

A05 - Trealamh Oifige agus Soláthairtí Eile Oifige

€885,490.88

A06 - Costais Oifige agus Áitribh

€1,819,603.60

A07 - Comhairleacht €0

A08 - Caiteachas Taighde €19,680

Caiteachas Neamhphá Iomlán

€3,781,168.33

Leithdháileadh Buiséid Iomlán 2018

€10,048,000 Caiteachas Pá agus Neamhphá Iomlán sa bhliain 2018

€9,847,356.68

Nótaí: • Ní dhearnadh an tArd-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste iniúchadh go fóill ar na figiúirí atá luaite.• Ní áirítear leis an tábla thuas Leithreasaí i gCabhair arbh fhiú €255,725.44 iad sa bhliain 2018.

Aguisín 1: Rialachas, Airgeadas agus Rialuithe Inmheánacha |

58 | Aguisín 1: Rialachas, Airgeadas agus Rialuithe Inmheánacha

Ráiteas maidir leis an gcóras rialaithe inmheánaigh in GSOC

Thar ceann Choimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána, aithním leis seo an fhreagracht atá orainn as a chinntiú go ndéantar córas éifeachtach rialuithe inmheánacha a chothabháil agus a fheidhmiú. Agus an fhreagracht sin á comhlíonadh againn, tugtar aird ar cheanglais an Chóid Chleachtais do Rialachas Comhlachtaí Stáit (2016).

Cuspóir an Chórais Rialaithe InmheánaighNí fhéadann an córas rialaithe inmheánaigh ach dearbhú réasúnta agus ní dearbhú iomlán a chur ar fáil go gcosnaítear sócmhainní, go n-údaraítear idirbhearta agus go dtaifeadtar iad go cuí agus go gcoisctear earráidí ábhartha agus mírialtachtaí eile nó go mbraithfí iad ar bhonn tráthúil. Is deimhin leis an gCoimisiún go bhfuil na córais atá i bhfeidhm aige réasúnta agus oiriúnach do chúinsí an Choimisiúin, agus aird á tabhairt ar a mhéid, ar a leibhéal caiteachais, ar a acmhainní foirne agus ar chineál a oibríochtaí.

Cumas le Riosca a LáimhseáilGhlac an Fhoireann Ardbhainistíochta páirt iomlán i bhfaireachán a dhéanamh ar rioscaí agus, a mhéid ab fhéidir léi sa timpeallacht oibriúcháin, i ndéileáil leis na rioscaí a cuireadh i láthair le linn na bliana 2018. Tá na bearta seo a leanas i bhfeidhm chun timpeallacht chuí rialaithe a áirithiú:

• Is faoi na bainisteoirí líne agus na comhaltaí den Choimisiún atá sé cinntí a dhéanamh maidir le caiteachas, ar aon dul leis na tairseacha caiteachais atá ceadaithe;

• Déantar freagrachtaí bainistíochta a shainiú agus a chur in iúl go soiléir idir an Stiúrthóir Riaracháin, Seirbhísí Corparáideacha agus an Fhoireann Airgeadais;

• Sanntar caidrimh inmheánacha thuairiscithe go soiléir;• Próiseálann an tIonad Seirbhísí Comhroinnte Párolla an párolla agus na héilimh thaistil agus

chothaithe a fhaightear le linn na bliana cuntasaíochta. Cuireann an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais seirbhísí iniúchóireachta inmheánaí, seirbhísí cothabhála i leith an chláir shócmhainní seasta, seirbhísí ordaithe ceannaigh agus seirbhísí comhdaithe cánach ar fáil do Choimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána freisin;

• Déanann conraitheoir seachtrach athbhreithniú rialta ar na rialuithe. Comhlánaíonn an próiseas sin na hiniúchtaí a dhéanann aonad iniúchóireachta inmheánaí na Roinne Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais;

• Tá nósanna imeachta airgeadais láidre i bhfeidhm ag Coimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána. Bhain sé leas as na seirbhísí de chuid gnólachta cuntasaíochta sheachtraigh le linn na bliana freisin.

An Creat Riosca agus RialaitheBhunaigh an Coimisiún próisis le haghaidh rioscaí gnó agus airgeadais a shainaithint agus a mheas ach na nithe seo a leanas a dhéanamh:

• Cineál agus méid na rioscaí airgeadais atá roimh an oifig a shainaithint;• Measúnú a dhéanamh ar an bhféidearthacht go dtarlódh na rioscaí sainaitheanta;• Meastóireacht agus measúnú a dhéanamh ar chumas inmheánach na hoifige na rioscaí a

tharlaíonn a bhainistiú;• Rioscaí airgeadais a scrúdú i gcomhthéacs na spriocanna straitéiseacha;• An Grúpa Faireacháin ar Bhainistíocht Riosca a athbhunú i gcomhthéacs na mball foirne a d’fhág

an eagraíocht le déanaí.

Tá Straitéis um Bainistíocht Riosca i bhfeidhm ag an gCoimisiún Ombudsman. Gné amháin den straitéis sin is ea an Grúpa Faireacháin ar Bhainistíocht Riosca. Cuireadh an Grúpa ar bun sa bhliain 2016 agus cuimsíonn sé dháréag comhaltaí de ghráid éagsúla, an Coimisinéir ina measc, chun rannpháirtíocht traseagraíochta a chinntiú sa phróiseas bainistíochta riosca.

Is é ról an Ghrúpa formhaoirseacht a dhéanamh ar an dóigh a ndéanann na bainisteoirí líne agus na cinn ar aonaid ghnó bainistíocht ar rioscaí, a chinntiú go nglactar cur chuige comhtháite i leith bainistíocht riosca ar fud GSOC, agus dearbhú a thabhairt don Lucht Ardbhainistíochta go bhfuil na rioscaí uile atá ar

59Aguisín 1: Rialachas, Airgeadas agus Rialuithe Inmheánacha |

eolas á maolú. Tháinig an Grúpa le chéile ocht n-uaire sa bhliain 2018 chun rioscaí a athbhreithniú agus chun clár rioscaí GSOC a thabhairt cothrom le dáta. Sainaithnítear i gclár rioscaí GSOC rioscaí sonracha, mionsonraítear ann na rialuithe agus na gníomhartha a theastaíonn chun na rioscaí sin a mhaolú agus leagtar freagracht ann ar phríomhbhaill foirne as rialuithe a mhaolú agus a oibriú. Gach mí, déanann an Coimisiún Ombudsman athbhreithniú ar theagmhais riosca ábhartha agus tugann sé faoi deara, nó ceadaíonn sé, na gníomhartha a dhéanann baill foirne chun na rioscaí sainaitheanta a mhaolú nó a bhainistiú de réir leibhéal réasúnta. Ba iad seo a leanas na príomhrioscaí a sainaithníodh don bhliain 2018:

1. Riosca Straitéiseach – An easpa acmhainní a bhí ar fáil2. Riosca do Chlú – An caidreamh diúltach a bhí ann leis na meáin3. Riosca Oibriúcháin – An teip an Rialachán Ginearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí ón Aontas Eorpach

a chomhlíonadh ina iomláine.

Samplaí den ghníomhaíocht a rinneadh le linn na bliana chun na rioscaí sin a mhaolú ba ea an cás gnó a cuireadh faoi bhráid na Roinne Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais agus na Roinne Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe chun acmhainní breise a iarraidh, an caidreamh a cothaíodh leis na meáin, agus an clár a cuireadh i bhfeidhm chun an Rialachán Ginearálta maidir le Cosaint Sonraí a chur chun feidhme agus a athbhreithniú.

Faireachán agus AthbhreithniúTá an córas rialaithe inmheánaigh bunaithe ar bhainistíocht inmheánach faisnéise, ar nósanna imeachta riaracháin agus ar chóras tarmligin agus cuntasachta. Cuirtear an obair seo a leanas go háirithe i gcrích ina leith sin:

• Déanann an Coimisiún agus Seirbhísí Corparáideacha athbhreithniú rialta ar an bhfaisnéis airgeadais a fhaightear ón Roinn Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais;

• Tugtar faoi bhuiséadú cuimsitheach, rud lena ngabhann buiséad bliantúil a ndéanann an lucht ardbhainistíochta athbhreithniú rialta air;

• Cuirtear tuarascálacha airgeadais faoi bhráid an Stiúrthóra Riaracháin gach mí lena n-athbhreithniú.

Cuireadh sásraí ar bun chun a chinntiú go bhfuil córais teicneolaíochta faisnéise agus cumarsáide an Choimisiúin (atá ar bun laistigh de GSOC) sách slán.

Teagmhais a raibh Teipeanna Suntasacha Rialaithe i gceist leoNíor thit aon teagmhais a raibh teipeanna suntasacha rialaithe i gceist leo amach sa bhliain 2018.

Comhlíonadh an Chóid Chaiteachais PhoiblíTá nósanna imeachta i bhfeidhm ag an gCoimisiún Ombudsman chun a chinntiú go gcomhlíontar na rialacha agus na treoirlínte reatha maidir le soláthar, mar atá leagtha amach ag an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais.

Ceadú ag an gCoimisiúnRinne Aonad Iniúchóireachta Inmheánaí na Roinne Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais athbhreithniú ar na rialuithe inmheánacha atá i bhfeidhm chun a chinntiú gur bhreithnigh an Coimisiún Ombudsman gach gné de bhainistíocht riosca, de TFC, de rialuithe inmheánacha agus de chleachtais bhainistíochta don bhliain 2018 agus suas go dtí an dáta a ceadaíodh an tuarascáil bhliantúil agus na ráitis airgeadais. Cuirfidh an Coimisiún a ainm leis an athbhreithniú sin agus cuirfear é ar áireamh lena scrúdú ag na hiniúchóirí seachtracha sa bhliain 2019 nuair a dhéanfar iniúchadh ar ráitis airgeadais GSOC don bhliain 2018.

Tríd is tríd, is deimhin leis an gCoimisiún go bhfuil an córas rialuithe inmheánacha atá ar bun in GSOC leordhóthanach chun dearbhú dóthanach a thabhairt dó agus go ndéantar na rialuithe sin a chur chun feidhme agus a athbhreithniú ar bhealach éifeachtach éifeachtúil.

Sínithe:

An Breitheamh Onórach Mary Ellen Ring, Cathaoirleach

60 | Aguisín 2: Próifíl na nDaoine a Rinne Gearán sa Bhliain 2018

AGUISÍN 2: PRÓIFÍL NA NDAOINE A RINNE GEARÁN SA BHLIAIN 2018

Cairt 10: Náisiúntacht

Afracach (3%)

Eile (6%)

Áiseach (1%)

Meiriceánach (1%)

Éireannach (80%)

Briotanach (4%)

Tíortha eile in AE (3%)

Polannach (2%)

80%

4%

3%2%

3%6% 1% 1%

Cairt 11: Tír bhreithe

86%

13%1%

Is ionann í agus an Náisiúntacht (86%)

Eile (13%)

Gan Freagra (1%)

Léirítear sna cairteacha thíos próifíl na ndaoine a rinne gearán le GSOC sa bhliain 2018.Tá na torthaí bunaithe ar shuirbhé a dháiltear ar gach gearánach nuair a chuireann siad gearán isteach. Thug 23% de ghearánaigh (433 dhuine) freagra ar an suirbhé sa bhliain 2018. Is gan ainm atá na freagraí uile.

*Ar mhaithe le slánuimhreacha a thabhairt, rinneadh figiúirí áirithe a shlánú suas nó síos

Cairt 8: Inscne

65%

34%

1%

Fireann (65%)

Baineann (34%)

Gan Freagra (1%)

Cairt 9: Aois

3%

22%

30%

21%

14%

10%

61+ (10%)

51-60 (14%)

41-50 (21%)

31-40 (30%)

18-30 (22%)

0-17 (3%)

61Aguisín 2: Próifíl na nDaoine a Rinne Gearán sa Bhliain 2018 |

Cairt 12: Eitneacht

85%

1%

6%2%

3%3%

Duine den Lucht Siúil (2%)

Eile (3%)

Áiseach (3%)

Geal (85%)

Gan Freagra (1%)

Gorm (6%)

Cairt 13: Teanga

85%

3%

6%3% 2%1%

Liotuáinis (3%)

Gaeilge (1%)

Polainnis (2%)

Béarla (85%)

Gan Freagra (3%)

Eile (6%)

Cairt 14: Míchumas

73%

5%

6%

4%

7%3% 2%

Eile (7%)

Síceolaíoch (3%)

Intleachtúil (2%)

Gan Stádas Sláinte/Míchumais (73%)

Gan Freagra (5%)

Fisiciúil (6%)

Roinnt Cineálacha (4%)

Cairt 15: Reiligiún

60%

20%

3%

11%

3% 1%1% 1%

Gan Freagra (3%)

Giúdach (1%)

Búdaíoch (1%)

Ortadocsach (1%)

Caitliceach (60%)

Gan Reiligiún (20%)

Moslamach (3%)

Eile (11%)

62 | Aguisín 2: Próifíl na nDaoine a Rinne Gearán sa Bhliain 2018

Cairt 18: Fostaíocht

39%

19%

13%

7%

6%

9%

3%5%

Eile (6%)

Gan a bheith ar fáil i gcomhair oibre (9%)

Gan Freagra (3%)

Oiliúnaí/Mac Léinn (5%)

Fostaithe (39%)

Dífhostaithe (19%)

Féinfhostaithe (13%)

Ar scor (7%)

Cairt 16: Tithíocht

40%

38%

9%

5%

5%3%

Aoi (5%)

Gan Freagra (5%)

Gan Dídean (3%)

Úinéir (40%)

Cíosaí (38%)

Eile (9%)

Cairt 17: An Leibhéal Oideachais is Airde

46%

36%

6%

4%5% 2%

Gan Freagra (4%)

Eile (5%)

Gan Oideachas Foirmiúil (2%)

Oideachas Tríú Leibhéal (46%)

Oideachas Dara Leibhéal (36%)

Bunoideachas (6%)

63Aguisín 3: Próifíl na nGardaí a ndearnadh gearán fúthu sa bhliain 2018 |

Léirítear sna cairteacha ar an leathanach seo próifíl na ngardaí a ndearnadh gearán fúthu i líomhaintí a glacadh sa bhliain 2018, i gcás go raibh céannacht (inscne agus céim) na ngardaí ar eolas.

*Ar mhaithe le slánuimhreacha a thabhairt, rinneadh figiúirí áirithe a shlánú suas nó síos

Cairt 19: Inscne na gcomhaltaí den Gharda Síochána a bhí i gceist le líomhaintí a glacadh s a bhliain 2018

84%

16%

Fireann (84%)

Baineann (16%)

Cairt 20: Céim na gcomhaltaí a bhí i gceist le líomhaintí a glacadh sa bhliain 2018

79%

11%

3%2%

5% <1%<1%

Ard-Cheannfort (<1%)

Mac Léinn/Promhóir (<1%)

Bleachtaire Garda (5%)

Bleachtaire-Sháirsint (<1%)

Garda (79%)

Sáirsint (11%)

Ceannfort (3%)

Cigire (2%)

AGUISÍN 3: PRÓIFÍL NA NGARDAÍ A NDEARNADH GEARÁN FÚTHU SA BHLIAIN 2018

Coimisiún Ombudsman an Gharda Síochána150 Sráid na Mainistreach UachtarachBaile Átha Cliath 1

(01) 871 6700Íosghlao 1890 600 800(01) 814 [email protected]@gardaombudsman

2018 annual report...introduction the year began with the garda síochána ombudsman commission...

Documents