An
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána (Irish pronunciation: [ən ˈɡaːrd̪ə
ˈʃiːxaːn̪ˠə]; meaning "the Guardian of the Peace"), more
commonly referred to as the Gardaí ([ˈɡaːɾˠd̪ˠiː]
"Guardians") or "the Guards", is the police force of the Republic of
Ireland. The service is headed by the
Garda Commissioner

Garda Commissioner who is
appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are in Dublin's
Phoenix Park.
Since the formation of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána in 1923, it has been a
predominantly unarmed force, and more than three-quarters of the force
do not routinely carry firearms.[7] As of 2016, the force employed
approximately 13,000 sworn members, 2,000 civilian staff and 700
reserves.[2] Operationally, the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána is organised into six
geographical regions: the Eastern, Northern, Southern, South-Eastern,
Western and
Dublin

Dublin Metropolitan Regions.[8]
In addition to its crime detection and prevention roles, road safety
enforcement duties, and community policing remit, the force has some
diplomatic and witness protection responsibilities and border control
functions.
Contents
1 Terminology
2 Organisation
2.1 Reserve Gardaí
2.2 Sections
3 Rank structure
4 Equipment
4.1 Armed Gardaí
5 Diplomatic protection
6 Vehicles
7 History
7.1 Scott Medal
7.2 Garda Commissioners
7.3 Past reserve forces
8 Inter-jurisdiction co-operation
8.1 Northern Ireland
8.2 Other jurisdictions
9 Controversy and allegations involving the force
9.1 Mishandling of cases and complaints
9.2 Allegations resulting in Tribunals of Inquiry
9.3 Allegations involving abuse of powers
9.4 Allegations involving cross-border policing and collusion with the
IRA
9.5 Operational management and finances
10 Reform initiatives
10.1 Updated procedures and code of discipline
10.2 Enhanced non-officer support
10.3 Garda Inspectorate
10.4
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
10.5 Policing Authority
10.6 Public attitudes to the Garda Síochána
10.7 Labour disputes
11 Garda Band
12 See also
13 References
14 External links
Terminology[edit]
The force was originally named the Civic Guard in English,[9] but in
1923 it became An
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána in both English and Irish. This is
usually translated as "the Guardian(s) of the Peace".[10] Garda
Síochána na hÉireann ("of Ireland", Irish
pronunciation: [ˈɡaːrd̪ə ˈʃiːxaːn̪ˠə n̪ˠə
ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ]) appears on its logo but is seldom used elsewhere.
The full official title of the force is rarely used in speech. How it
is referred to depends on the register being used. It is variously
known as An Garda Síochána; the Garda Síochána; the Garda; the
Gardaí (plural); and it is popularly called "the guards".[11]
Although Garda is singular, in these terms it is used as a collective
noun, like police.
An individual officer is called a garda (plural gardaí), or,
informally, a "guard". A police station is called a Garda station.
Garda is also the name of the lowest rank within the force (e.g.
"Garda John Murphy", analogous to the British term "constable" or the
American "officer", "deputy", "trooper", etc.). "Guard" is the most
common form of address used by members of the public speaking to a
garda on duty. A female officer was once officially referred to as a
bangharda ([ˈbˠanˌɣaːɾˠd̪ˠə]; "female guard"; plural
banghardaí). This term was abolished in 1990,[12] but is still used
colloquially in place of the now gender-neutral garda.
Organisation[edit]
Rank
Irish name
Number of operatives
(31 August 2014)[13]
Number of operatives
(31 December 2015)[14]
Commissioner
Coimisinéir
1
1 (-)
Deputy Commissioner
Leas-Choimisinéir
0
2 (+2)
Assistant Commissioner
Cúntóir-Choimisinéir
8
5 (-3)
Chief Superintendent
Príomh-Cheannfort
41
42 (+1)
Superintendent
Ceannfort
140
160 (+20)
Inspector
Cigire
300
247 (-53)
Sergeant
Sáirsint
1,946
1,835 (-111)
Gardaí
Gardaí
10,459
10,524 (+65)
Reserve Gardaí
Gardaí Ionaid
1,112
-
Student Gardaí
Mac Léinn Ghardaí
200
-
The force is headed by the Garda Commissioner, whose immediate
subordinates are two Deputy Commissioners – in charge of
"Operations" and "Strategy and Change Management", respectively –
and a Chief Administrative Officer with responsibility for resource
management (personnel, finance, Information and Communications
Technology, and accommodation). There are twelve Assistant
Commissioners: one for each of the six geographical Regions, and the
remainder dealing with various national support functions. At an
equivalent or near-equivalent level to the Assistant Commissioners are
the positions of Chief Medical Officer, Executive Director of
Information and Communications Technology, and Executive Director of
Finance.
The six geographical Assistant Commissioners command the six Garda
Force Regions, which are:[8]
Dublin

Dublin Metropolitan Region
Eastern
Northern
Southern
South-Eastern
Western
A group of Gardaí
Directly subordinate to the Assistant Commissioners are approximately
50 Chief Superintendents, about half of whom supervise what are called
Divisions. Each Division contains a number of Districts, each
commanded by a Superintendent assisted by a team of Inspectors. Each
District contains a number of Subdistricts, which are usually
commanded by Sergeants.
Typically each Subdistrict contains only one Garda station. A
different number of Gardaí are based at each station depending on its
importance. Most of these stations employ the basic rank of Garda,
which was referred to as the rank of Guard until 1972. The most junior
members of the force are students, whose duties can vary depending on
their training progress. They are often assigned clerical duties as
part of their extracurricular studies.
The Garda organisation also has approximately 2,000 non-officer
support staff encompassing a diverse range of areas such as human
resources, occupational health services, finance and procurement,
internal audit, IT and telecommunications, accommodation and fleet
management, scenes-of-crime support, research and analysis, training
and general administration. The figure also includes industrial staff
such as traffic wardens, drivers and cleaners. It is ongoing
government policy to bring the level of non-officer support in the
organisation up to international standards – thus enhancing its
capacity and expertise in a range of specialist and administrative
functions, and releasing more of its police officers for core
operational duties.
Reserve Gardaí[edit]
Main article:
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Reserve
The
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Act 2005 provided for the establishment of a
Garda Reserve to assist the force in performing its functions, and
supplement the work of members of the Garda Síochána.
The intent of the Garda Reserve is "to be a source of local strength
and knowledge". Reserve members are to carry out duties defined by the
Garda Commissioner

Garda Commissioner and sanctioned by the Minister for Justice and
Equality. With reduced training of 128 hours, these duties and powers
must be executed under the supervision of regular members of the
Force; they are also limited with respect to those of regular members.
The first batch of 36 Reserve Gardaí graduated on 15 December 2006 at
the Garda College, in Templemore.[15] As of October 2016, there were
789 Garda Reserve members with further training scheduled for
2017.[16]
Garda Traffic Corps

Garda Traffic Corps car
The two helicopters of the Garda Air Support Unit
Sections[edit]
National Support Services consists of:
Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation
Criminal Assets Bureau
Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau
Garda National Economic Crime Bureau
Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau
Garda National Immigration Bureau
Technical Bureau
Operational Support Unit that consists of:
Air Support Unit
Water Unit
Dog Unit
Mounted Unit
Garda Crime & Security Branch consists of:
Special

Special Detective Unit
Emergency Response Unit
National Surveillance Unit
Traffic Corps
Public Order Unit
Regional Support Units
Central Vetting Unit
Garda Information Services Centre
Community Relations Unit
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána College
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Reserve
Rank structure[edit]
Ranks of the Garda Síochána
Rank
Student Reserve
Student
Garda Reserve
Garda
Sergeant
Inspector
Superintendent
Chief
Superintendent
Assistant
Commissioner
Deputy
Commissioner
Commissioner
Insignia
Equipment[edit]
Most uniformed members of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána do not routinely carry
firearms. Individual Gardaí have been issued ASP extendable batons
and pepper spray as their standard issue weapons while handcuffs are
provided as restraints.[17]
A member of the motorcycle unit of the Garda Síochána
The force, when originally created, was armed, but the Provisional
Government reversed the decision and reconstituted the force as an
unarmed police force. This was in contrast to the attitude of the
British
Dublin

Dublin Castle administration, which refused appeals from the
Royal Irish Constabulary

Royal Irish Constabulary that the force be disarmed.[18] In the words
of first Commissioner, Michael Staines, TD, "the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána will
succeed not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority
as servants of the people."
According to
Tom Garvin such a decision gave the new force a cultural
ace: "the taboo on killing unarmed men and women who could not
reasonably be seen as spies and informers."[18]
Armed Gardaí[edit]
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Emergency Response Unit armed with an UZI sub
machinegun on duty in Dublin
The Gardaí is primarily an unarmed force; however, detectives and
certain units such as the Regional Support Units (RSU) and the
Emergency Response Unit (ERU) are commissioned to carry firearms and
do so.
The armed officers serve as a support to regular Gardaí. Armed units
were established in response to a rise in the number of armed
incidents dealt with by regular members.[19] To be issued with a
firearm, or to carry a firearm whilst on duty, a member must be in
possession of a valid gun card, and cannot wear a regular uniform.
Armed Gardaí carry
Sig Sauer P226

Sig Sauer P226 and Walther P99C semi-automatic
pistols. Armed intervention units and specialist Detective units carry
a variety of long arms, primarily the Heckler & Koch MP7
sub-machine guns as the standard issue weapon alongside the Heckler
& Koch MP5.
In addition to issued pistols, less-lethal weapons such as tasers and
large pepper spray canisters are carried also by the ERU.[20]
Diplomatic protection[edit]
An armed close protection officer from the
Special

Special Detective Unit
protecting Queen
Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II in 2011
The Garda
Special Detective Unit

Special Detective Unit (SDU) are primarily responsibility
for providing armed close protection to senior officials in
Ireland.[21] They provide full-time armed protection and transport for
the President, Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister for Justice and
Equality, Attorney General, Chief Justice, Director of Public
Prosecutions, Ambassadors and Diplomats deemed 'at risk' (such as the
Ambassadors, Embassies and Diplomatic Residences of the United
Kingdom, United States, Israel), as well as foreign dignitaries
visiting Ireland and citizens deemed to require armed protection as
designated so by the Garda Commissioner.[22] The Commissioner is also
protected by the unit. All cabinet ministers are afforded armed
protection at heightened levels of risk when deemed necessary by Garda
Intelligence,[23] and their places of work and residences are
monitored.[24] Former Presidents and Taoisigh are protected if their
security is under threat, otherwise they only receive protection on
formal state occasions.[25] The Emergency Response Unit (ERU), a
section of the SDU, are deployed on more than 100 VIP protection
duties per year.[26]
Vehicles[edit]
See also: List of vehicles used by the Garda Síochána
Garda Toyota Avensis
Garda patrol cars are white or silver in colour, with a fluorescent
yellow and blue bordered horizontal strip, accompanied by the Garda
crest as livery. A half battenburg pattern is used on Traffic Corps
cars. Unmarked patrol cars are also used in the course of regular,
traffic and investigatory duties. Specialist units, such as the ERU,
utilise armored vehicles for special operations.
History[edit]
New Garda recruits salute the President of Ireland, An Tóstal, 1954
The Civic Guard was formed by the Provisional Government in February
1922 to take over the responsibility of policing the fledgling Irish
Free State. It replaced the
Royal Irish Constabulary

Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the
Irish Republican Police of 1919–22. In August 1922 the force
accompanied Michael Collins when he met the Lord Lieutenant in Dublin
Castle.[27]
Garda Traffic Corps

Garda Traffic Corps in Dublin
The
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána (Temporary Provisions) Act 1923 enacted after the
creation of the
Irish Free State

Irish Free State on 8 August 1923,[28] provided for
the creation of "a force of police to be called and known as 'The
Garda Síochána'".[29] Under section 22, The Civic Guard were deemed
to have been established under and to be governed by the Act. The law
therefore effectively renamed the existing force.
The seven-week Civic Guard Mutiny began in May 1922, when Garda
recruits took over the Kildare Depot. It resulted in Michael Staines'
resignation in September.
During the Civil War of 1922–23, the new Free State set up the
Criminal Investigation Department as an armed, plain-clothed
counter-insurgency unit. It was disbanded after the end of the war in
October 1923 and elements of it were absorbed into the Dublin
Metropolitan Police.
In Dublin, policing remained the responsibility of the Dublin
Metropolitan
Police

Police (DMP, founded 1836) until it merged with the Garda
Síochána in 1925. Since then the Garda has been the only civil
police force in the state now known as Ireland. Other police forces
with limited powers are the Military
Police

Police within the Irish Defence
Forces, the Airport
Police

Police Service, and
Dublin

Dublin Harbour
Police

Police and Dún
Laoghaire Harbour
Police

Police forces.
Garda directing traffic in
Dublin

Dublin during the 1960s
Scott Medal[edit]
See also: List of Gardaí killed in the line of duty
First established in 1925, the
Scott Medal

Scott Medal for Bravery is the highest
honour for bravery and valour awarded to a member of the Garda
Síochána. The first medals were funded by Colonel Walter Scott, an
honorary Commissioner of the New York
Police

Police Department.[30] The first
recipient of the
Scott Medal

Scott Medal was Pat Malone of St. Luke's Cork City
who – as an unarmed Garda – disarmed Tomás Óg Mac Curtain (the
son of Tomás Mac Curtain).
To mark the United States link, the
American English

American English spelling of valor
is used on the medal. The
Garda Commissioner

Garda Commissioner chooses the recipients of
the medal, which is presented by the Minister for Justice and
Equality.
In 2000, Anne McCabe – the widow of Jerry McCabe, a garda who was
killed by armed Provisional IRA bank robbers – accepted the Scott
Medal for Bravery that had been awarded posthumously to her
husband.[31]
The
Irish Republican Police had at least one member killed by the RIC
21 July 1920. The Civic Guard had one killed by accident 22 September
1922 and another was killed in March 1923 by Frank Teeling. Likewise 4
members of the Oriel House Criminal Investigation Department were
killed or died of wounds during the Irish Civil War.[32] The Garda
Roll of Honor lists over 80 Garda members killed between 1922 and the
present.
Garda Commissioners[edit]
Main article: Garda Commissioner
Garda Commissioners
Name
From
Until
Reason
Michael Staines
February 1922
September 1922
resigned
Eoin O'Duffy
September 1922
February 1933
dismissed[note 1]
Eamon Broy
February 1933
June 1938
retired
Michael Kinnane
June 1938
July 1952
died
Daniel Costigan
July 1952
February 1965
resigned
William P Quinn
February 1965
March 1967
retired
Patrick Carroll
March 1967
September 1968
retired
Michael Wymes
September 1968
January 1973
retired
Patrick Malone
January 1973
September 1975
retired
Edmund Garvey
September 1975
January 1978
replaced[note 2]
Patrick McLaughlin
January 1978
January 1983
retired[note 3]
Lawrence Wren
February 1983
November 1987
retired
Eamonn Doherty
November 1987
December 1988
retired
Eugene Crowley
December 1988
January 1991
retired
Patrick Culligan
January 1991
July 1996
retired
Patrick Byrne
July 1996
July 2003
retired
Noel Conroy
July 2003
November 2007
retired
Fachtna Murphy
November 2007
December 2010
retired
Martin Callinan
December 2010
March 2014
resigned[33][34]
[note 4]
Nóirín O'Sullivan
March 2014(acting)
November 2014 (permanent)[35]
September 2017
retired[36][note 5]
Dónall Ó Cualáin
September 2017 (acting)
(incumbent)
The first Commissioner, Michael Staines, who was a Pro-Treaty member
of Dáil Éireann, held office for only eight months. It was his
successors,
Eoin O'Duffy

Eoin O'Duffy and Éamon Broy, who played a central role in
the development of the force. O'Duffy was Commissioner in the early
years of the force when to many people's surprise the viability of an
unarmed police force was established. O'Duffy later became a
short-lived political leader of the quasi-fascist
Blueshirts

Blueshirts before
heading to Spain to fight alongside Francisco Franco's Nationalists in
the Spanish Civil War. Broy had greatly assisted the Irish Republican
Army (IRA) during the Anglo-Irish War, while serving with the Dublin
Metropolitan
Police

Police (DMP). Broy's fame grew in the 1990s when he
featured in the film Michael Collins, in which it was misleadingly
suggested that he had been murdered by the British during the War of
Independence, when in reality he lived for decades and headed the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána from 1933 to 1938. Broy was followed by Commissioners
Michael Kinnane (1938–52) and
Daniel Costigan (1952–65). The first
Commissioner to rise from the rank of ordinary Garda was William P.
Quinn, who was appointed in February 1965.
One later Commissioner, Edmund Garvey, was sacked by the Fianna Fáil
government of
Jack Lynch
.jpg)
Jack Lynch in 1978 after it had lost confidence in him.
Garvey won "unfair dismissal" legal proceedings against the
government, which was upheld in the Irish Supreme Court[37] This
outcome required the passing of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Act 1979 to
retrospectively validate the actions of Garvey's successor since he
had become Commissioner.[38] Garvey's successor, Patrick McLaughlin,
was forced to resign along with his deputy in 1983 over his peripheral
involvement in a political scandal.
On 25 November 2014
Nóirín O'Sullivan was appointed as Garda
Commissioner, after acting as interim Commissioner since March 2014,
following the unexpected retirement of Martin Callinan. It was noted
that as a result most top justice posts in Ireland at the time were
held by women.[39] The first female to hold the top rank, Commissioner
O'Sullivan joined the force in 1981, and was among the first members
of a plain-clothes unit set up to tackle drug dealing in Dublin.
On 10 September 2017
Nóirín O'Sullivan announced her retirement from
the force and, by extension, Garda Commissioner. Upon her retirement,
Deputy Commissioner
Dónall Ó Cualáin was appointed Acting
Commissioner by Minister of Justice
Charles Flanagan

Charles Flanagan while he searched
for a permanent replacement[40].
Past reserve forces[edit]
During the
Second World War

Second World War (often referred to in Ireland as "the
Emergency") there were two reserve forces to the Garda Síochána, An
Taca Síochána and the Local Security Force.[41]
An Taca Síochána had the power of arrest and wore uniform, and were
allowed to leave the reserve or sign-up as full members of the Garda
Síochána at the end of the war before the reserve was disbanded. The
reserve was established by the Emergency Powers (Temporary Special
Police

Police Force) Order, 1939.
The Local Security Force (LSF) did not have the power of arrest, and
part of the reserve was soon incorporated into the
Irish Army

Irish Army Reserve
under the command of the Irish Army.[42]
Inter-jurisdiction co-operation[edit]
Northern Ireland[edit]
The
Patten Report recommended that a programme of long-term personnel
exchanges should be established between the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána and the
Police Service of Northern Ireland

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). This recommendation was
enacted in 2002 by an Inter-Governmental Agreement on Policing
Cooperation, which set the basis for the exchange of officer between
the two services. There are three levels of exchanges:
Personnel exchanges, for all ranks, without policing powers and for a
term up to one year
Secondments: for ranks
Sergeant

Sergeant to Chief Superintendent, with policing
powers, for up to three years
Lateral entry by the permanent transfer of officers for ranks above
Inspector

Inspector and under Assistant Commissioner
The protocols for this movements of personnel were signed by both the
Chief
Constable

Constable of the PSNI and the
Garda Commissioner

Garda Commissioner on 21 February
2005.[43]
Garda officers also co-operate with members of the PSNI to combat
cross-border crime, and can conduct joint raids on both jurisdictions.
They have also accompanied politicians from the Republic, such as the
President on visits to Northern Ireland.
Other jurisdictions[edit]
Since 1989, the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána has undertaken United Nations
peace-keeping duties. Its first such mission was a 50 strong
contingent sent to Namibia. Since then the force has acted in Angola,
Cambodia, Cyprus, Mozambique, South Africa and the former Yugoslavia.
The force's first fatality whilst working abroad was
Sergeant

Sergeant Paul M.
Reid, who was fatally injured while on duty with the United Nations
UNPROFOR

UNPROFOR at "Sniper's Alley" in
Sarajevo

Sarajevo on 18 May 1995.
Members of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána also serve in the Embassies of Ireland
in London, The Hague, Madrid and Paris. Members are also seconded to
Europol

Europol in The Hague, in the
Netherlands
.jpg/300px-Intelsat_111_Atlas_Centaur_(14392777565).jpg)
Netherlands and
Interpol

Interpol in Lyon, France.
There are also many members working directly for UN and European
agencies such as the War Crimes Tribunal.
Under an agreement with the
British Government

British Government and the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea, the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána and the
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland are allowed to inspect
the
Sellafield

Sellafield nuclear facility in Cumbria, England.
Controversy and allegations involving the force[edit]
The Gardaí have faced complaints or allegations of discourtesy,
harassment and perjury.[44] A total of 1,173 complaints were made
against the Gardaí in 2005,[45] with over 2000 complaints made in
2009.[46]
Some such incidents have attracted broad attention and resulted in a
number of reform initiatives—such as those relating to Garda
whistleblowers or which led to the Morris and Barr Tribunals.[47]
Mishandling of cases and complaints[edit]
Main articles: Kerry Babies Tribunal, Sexual abuse scandal in Dublin
archdiocese, and Grangegorman killings
The Kerry Babies case was one of the first public inquiries into
mishandling of a Garda investigation. Later, in the 1980s, the Ferns
Report (an inquiry into allegations of clerical sexual abuse)
described as "wholly inadequate" the handling of one of eight formal
complaints made to
Wexford

Wexford gardaí, but noted that the remaining
formal complaints were handled in an "effective, professional and
sensitive" manner.[48]
The Gardaí were also criticised in the Murphy Report[49] in relation
to the handing over of the case of Fr.
Paul McGennis to Archbishop
McQuaid by Commissioner Costigan.[50] Some very senior Gardaí were
criticised for regarding priests as being outside their remit in
1960.[51] On 26 November 2009, then Commissioner Fachtna Murphy
apologised for the failure of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána to protect victims
of child abuse,[52] saying that inappropriate contact between gardaí
and the
Dublin

Dublin Archdiocese had taken place at the time,[52] and later
announced an examination into the report's findings.[53]
The Gardaí were criticised by the commission of investigation into
the Dean Lyons case for their handling of the investigation into the
Grangegorman killings. In his report,
George Birmingham said that the
Gardaí had used leading questions in their interviews with Lyons, and
had failed to act on a suspicion that Lyons' confession was
unreliable. For a period, the gardaí involved in the case failed to
act on the knowledge that another man, Mark Nash, had confessed to the
crime.[54]
Allegations resulting in Tribunals of Inquiry[edit]
Main articles:
Morris Tribunal and Barr Tribunal
In the 1990s and early 2000s the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána faced allegations of
corrupt and dishonest policing in County Donegal. This became the
subject of a Garda inquiry (the Carty inquiry) and subsequent judicial
inquiry (the Morris Tribunal). The
Morris Tribunal found that some
gardaí based in
County Donegal

County Donegal had invented a Provisional IRA
informer, made bombs and claimed credit for locating them, and
attempted to frame
Raphoe

Raphoe publican Frank McBrearty Junior for
murder – the latter case involving a €1.5m settlement with
the State.[55] A similar case saw a €4.5m judgement,[56] after
another Donegal publican was wrongly convicted based on "perjured
Garda evidence" and "a conspiracy to concoct false evidence" by the
same Donegal-based gardaí.[57][58][59]
On 20 April 2000, members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) shot
dead 27-year-old John Carthy at the end of a 25-hour siege as he left
his home in Abbeylara,
County Longford

County Longford with a loaded shotgun in his
hands. There were allegations made of inappropriate handling of the
situation and of the reliance of lethal force by the Gardaí. This led
to a Garda inquiry, and subsequently, a Tribunal of Inquiry under
Justice Robert Barr. The official findings of the tribunal were that
the responsible sergeant had made 14 mistakes in his role as
negotiator during the siege, and failed to make real efforts to
achieve resolution during the armed stand-off. It further stated
however that the sergeant was limited by lack of experience and
resources (including psychologists, solicitors, dogs), and recommended
a review of Garda command structures, and that the ERU be equipped
with stun guns and other non-lethal options. The Barr tribunal further
recommended a formal working arrangement between Gardaí and state
psychologists, and improvements in Garda training.
Allegations involving abuse of powers[edit]
One of the first charges of serious impropriety against the force rose
out of the handling of the
Sallins Train Robbery in 1976. This case
eventually led to accusations that a "Heavy Gang" within the force
intimidated and tortured the accused. This eventually led to a
Presidential pardon for one of the accused.
In 2004, an RTÉ Prime Time documentary accused elements within the
Garda of abusing their powers by physically assaulting people
arrested. A retired
Circuit Court judge (W. A. Murphy) suggested that
some members of the force had committed perjury in criminal trials
before him but later stated that he was misquoted, while Minister of
State Dick Roche, accused Gardaí in one instance of "torture". The
Garda Commissioner

Garda Commissioner accused the television programme of lacking
balance. The documentary followed the publication of footage by the
Independent Media Centre showing scuffles between Gardaí and Reclaim
the Streets demonstrators.[60] One Garda in the footage was later
convicted of common assault, while several other Gardaí were
acquitted.
In 2014, a debate arose relating to alleged abuse of process in
cancelling penalty points (for traffic offences), and a subsequent
controversy resulted in a number of resignations.[61]
Allegations involving cross-border policing and collusion with the
IRA[edit]
Former head of intelligence of the Provisional IRA, Kieran Conway
claimed that in 1974 the IRA were tipped-off by "high-placed figures"
within the Gardaí about a planned RUC
Special

Special Branch raid, which was
intended to capture members of the IRA command. Asked if this was just
a one-off example of individual Gardaí colluding with the IRA, Conway
claimed: "It wasn't just in 1974 and it wasn't just concentrated in
border areas like Dundalk, it was some individuals but it was more
widespread."[62]
Following a recommendation from the Cory Collusion Inquiry, the
Smithwick Tribunal

Smithwick Tribunal investigated allegations of collusion following the
1989 killing of two
Royal Ulster Constabulary

Royal Ulster Constabulary officers by the
Provisional IRA as they returned from a meeting with the Gardaí. The
tribunal's report was published in December 2013,[63][64] and noted
that, although there was no "smoking gun", Judge Smithwick was
"satisfied there was collusion in the murders" and that "evidence
points to the fact that there was someone within the Garda station
assisting the IRA". The report was also critical of two earlier Garda
investigations into the murders, which it described as "inadequate".
Irish Justice Minister
Alan Shatter

Alan Shatter apologised "without reservation"
for the failings identified in the report.[65][66]
The family of Eddie Fullerton, a
Buncrana

Buncrana
Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin councillor killed
in 1991 by members of the Ulster Defence Association, criticised the
subsequent Garda investigation,[67][68] and in 2006, the then Minister
for Justice considered a public inquiry into the case.[69]
Operational management and finances[edit]
See also: Policing of the
Corrib gas

Corrib gas protests
Gardaí at the site of the proposed
Corrib gas

Corrib gas refinery in Erris,
County Mayo
Protests at the proposed
Royal Dutch Shell

Royal Dutch Shell
Corrib gas

Corrib gas refinery near
Erris,
County Mayo

County Mayo saw large Garda operations with up to 200 Gardaí
involved.[70] By September 2008, the cost of the operation was €10
million, and by January 2009 estimated to have cost €13.5
million.[71] Some outlets compared this to the €20 million budgeted
for operations targeting organised crime.[72] A section of road used
by the protesters was allegedly dubbed "the Golden Mile" by Gardaí
because of overtime opportunities.[73] Complaints were also made about
Garda management and handling of the protests.[74][75]
In 2017, a number of reported operational issues (including handling
of the Garda whistleblower scandal, falsified alcohol breath tests,
and the finances of the Garda Training College) were referenced as
contributors to the early retirement of then commissioner Nóirín
O'Sullivan.[76][77]
Reform initiatives[edit]
Arising from some of the above incidents, the Garda Síochána
underwent a number of reform initiatives in the early 21st century.
The
Morris Tribunal in particular recommended major changes to the
organisation's management, discipline, promotion and accountability
arrangements. Many of these recommendations were subsequently
implemented under the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Act 2005.
The Tribunal has been staggered by the amount of indiscipline and
insubordination it has found in the Garda force. There is a small, but
disproportionately influential, core of mischief-making members who
will not obey orders, who will not follow procedures, who will not
tell the truth and who have no respect for their officers
— Justice Frederick Morris, Chairman and Sole Member of The Morris
Tribunal, [78]
It was also stated by the tribunal chairman, Justice Morris, that the
code of discipline was extremely complex and, at times, "cynically
manipulated" to promote indiscipline across the force. Judicial
reviews, for example, were cited as a means for delaying disciplinary
action.
The fall-out from the
Morris Tribunal was considerable. While fifteen
members of the force were sacked between 2001 and 2006, and a further
42 resigned in lieu of dismissal in the same period, Commissioner
Conroy stated that he was constrained in the responses available to
deal with members whose misbehaviour is cited in public inquiries.[79]
Updated procedures and code of discipline[edit]
With strong support from opposition parties, and reflecting widespread
political consensus, the Minister for Justice responded to many of
these issues by announcing a new draft code of discipline on 17 August
2006. The new streamlined code[80] introduced new procedures to enable
the Commissioner to summarily dismiss a Garda alleged to have brought
the force into disrepute, abandoned duties, compromised the security
of the State or unjustifiably infringed the rights of other persons.
Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin
In addition, a four-member "non-officer management advisory team" was
appointed in August 2006 to advise on implementing change options and
addressing management and leadership challenges facing the Gardaí.
The advisers were also mandated to promote a culture of performance
management, succession planning, recruitment of non-officers with
specialist expertise, and improved training. The advisory team
included Senator Maurice Hayes, Emer Daly (former director of
strategic planning and risk management at Axa Insurance), Maurice
Keane (former group chief executive at Bank of Ireland), Michael
Flahive (Assistant Secretary at the Department of Justice and Dr
Michael Mulreany (assistant director general at the Institute of
Public Administration).
Enhanced non-officer support[edit]
Clerical and administrative support has been significantly enhanced in
recent times. In the two-year period from December 2006 to December
2008 whole-time equivalent non-officer staffing levels were increased
by over 60%, from under 1,300 to approximately 2,100, in furtherance
of official policies to release more desk-bound Gardaí for
operational duties and to bring the level of general support in line
with international norms. A new tier of middle and senior non-officer
management has also been introduced in a range of administrative and
technical/professional support areas. A Chief Administrative Officer
at Deputy Commissioner level was appointed in October 2007 to oversee
many of these key support functions.
Garda Inspectorate[edit]
In accordance with Section 115 of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Act, the Garda
Síochána Inspectorate consists of three members who are appointed by
the Irish Government. The functions of the Inspectorate, inter alia,
are as follows:
Carry out, at the request or with the consent of the Minister,
inspections or inquiries in relation to any particular aspects of the
operation and administration of the Garda Síochána,
Submit to the Minister (1) a report on those inspections or inquiries,
and (2) if required by the Minister, a report on the operation and
administration of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána during a specified period and
on any significant developments in that regard during that period, and
any such reports must contain recommendations for any action the
Inspectorate considers necessary.
provide advice to the Minister with regard to best policing practice.
The first Chief
Inspector

Inspector (since July 2006), is former Commissioner of
Boston Police, Kathleen M. O'Toole. She reports directly to the
Minister for Justice and Equality.
From 2006 to 2009, O'Toole was supported by two other inspectors,
Robert Olsen and Gwen M. Boniface. Olsen was Chief of
Police

Police for 8
years of the
Minneapolis

Minneapolis
Police

Police Department. Boniface is a former
Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, and was one of 3 female
police commissioners in Canada when appointed in May 1998. She
suggested that rank and file Gardaí were not equipped to perform
their duties or protect themselves properly. She also suggested that
routine arming may become a reality but dismissed the suggestion that
this was currently being considered.
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission[edit]
Main article:
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
Over 2000 complaints were made against the organisation in 2009.[46]
The
Garda Commissioner

Garda Commissioner referred over 100 incidents where the conduct
of a garda resulted in death or serious injury to the Ombudsman for
investigation. Also newly instrumented, the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Ombudsman
Commission (referred to colloquially as the Garda Ombudsman or simply
abbreviated to GSOC) replaces the earlier system of complaints (the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Complaints Board). Becoming fully operational on 9
May 2007, the Commission is empowered to:
Directly and independently investigate complaints against members of
the Garda Síochána
Investigate any matter, even where no complaint has been made, where
it appears that a Garda may have committed an offence or behaved in a
way that justified disciplinary proceedings
Investigate any practise, policy or procedure of the Garda Síochána
with a view to reducing the incidence of related complaints
The members of the Garda Ombudsman Commission are: Dermot Gallagher
(Chairman; former Secretary General at the Department of Foreign
Affairs), Carmel Foley (former Director of Consumer Affairs), and
Conor Brady (former editor of
The Irish Times

The Irish Times and author of a book on
the history of the Gardaí). The Commission's first chairman was Kevin
Haugh (a High Court Judge) who died in early 2009, shortly before his
term of office was to conclude.[81]
Policing Authority[edit]
In the first week of November 2014, Minister for Justice Frances
Fitzgerald obtained the approval of the Irish Cabinet for the General
Scheme[82] of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2014, intended to
create a new independent policing authority, in what she described as
the 'most far-reaching reform’ of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána since the
State was founded in 1922.[83] State security will remain the
responsibility of the Minister and will be outside the remit of the
Authority.[84] On 13 November 2014, she announced that the
chairperson-designate of the new authority would be outgoing Revenue
Commissioners chairperson Josephine Feehily.[85]
Public attitudes to the Garda Síochána[edit]
The Garda Public Attitudes Survey 2017 found that 74% of respondents
were satisfied with the Gardaí,[86] down from 81% in the 2008
survey.[87]
The 2017 survey (taken before revelations of false breath tests,
wrongful convictions and the departure of the then commissioner)[88]
also found that less than half of respondents believed that the
Gardaí was a well managed or world-class police service.[86]
Labour disputes[edit]
Industrial action (including work-to-rule and withdrawal of labour)
was threatened by Gardaí during 2016, arising out of a dispute on pay
and conditions.[89]
Garda Band[edit]
The Garda Band is a public relations branch of the Garda Síochána,
and was formed shortly after the foundation of the force. It gave its
first public performance on
Dún Laoghaire

Dún Laoghaire Pier on
Easter Monday
.jpg/380px-21.4.14_Lamacaes_1_Easter_Monday_Parade_070_(13983298816).jpg)
Easter Monday 1923,
and its first
Bandmaster was Superintendent D.J. Delaney.[90] In 1938,
the
Dublin

Dublin Metropolitan Garda Band (based at Kevin Street) and the
Garda Band amalgamated and were based at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix
Park.[90]
The band was disbanded in 1965. However to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the foundation of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána it was reformed
in 1972.[citation needed]
Besides providing music for official Garda functions (such as
graduation ceremonies at the Garda College) the band also performs at
schools, festivals and sporting events.[91] This includes performances
at international soccer and rugby union matches, some G.A.A. games,
the
St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, the Rose of Tralee festival,
and other events.[92][93]
In 1964 the band toured the United States and Canada under
Superintendent J. Moloney.[94]
Members of the band, none of whom are involved in policing duties,
were paid an average of €58,985 Euros in 2017.[95][96]
See also[edit]
Garda Museum
References[edit]
^ McNiffe, Liam (1997). A History of the Garda Síochána. Dublin:
Wolfhound Press. p. 11. ISBN 0863275818. The Provisional
Government of the
Irish Free State

Irish Free State set up a committee to organise a
new police force. The committee first met in the Gresham Hotel,
Dublin, on Thursday, 9 February 1922 ... ... ...The first recruit was
officially attested on 21 February 1922 and he had been joined by
ninety-eight others by the end of that month
^ a b c d "An
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Annual Report 2016" (PDF). An Garda
Síochána. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2017.
Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Part IV Estimates for Public Services 2015 – Incorporating
Summary Public Capital Programme (Table 1)" (PDF). Budget 2015.
Department of Finance. p. 142.
^ "2011 Census: Ireland's population stands at 4,588,252".
Politics.ie. 29 March 2012.
^ "The reasons for the selection of Garda Stations to be closed". Dept
of Justice and Equality. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
^ "
Department of Justice and Equality

Department of Justice and Equality Garda Transport Data". Kildare
Street. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Uniformed gardaí will remain unarmed - Commissioner". Irish Times.
29 April 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2017. [The Commissioner] told
delegates there were 3,500 armed members - almost a quarter of the
force - and that his focus was on giving them the best training.
^ a b "Geographical Layout - Regions, Divisions and Districts".
Garda.ie. Garda Síochána. Archived from the original on 24 October
2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ Dolan, Terence Patrick (2004). A Dictionary of Hiberno English: the
Irish use of English. Gill & Macmillan Ltd. p. 103.
ISBN 0-7171-3535-7.
^ "Short History of An Garda Siochana". Garda Síochána. Archived
from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2006. the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána (meaning in English: 'The Guardians of the
Peace')
^ Frank A. Biletz (2013). Historical Dictionary of Ireland. Historical
Dictionaries of Europe. Scarecrow Press. p. 162.
ISBN 9780810870918. Retrieved 13 May 2014. Garda Siochana
(Guardians of the Peace). The national
Police

Police force of the Irish
Republic. .... In 1925, the force was renamed the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána na
hÉireann ("Guard of the Peace of Ireland") ... Popularly called "the
guards", the force is divided into six geographical regions: ...
^ "Garda Titles". Volume 404. Dáil Éireann. 5 February 1991.
Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
^ "Garda Promotions: 4 Nov 2014: Written answers (KildareStreet.com)".
www.kildarestreet.com. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
^ "How many Garda Members are there?". www.garda.ie. An Garda
Síochána - Ireland's National
Police

Police Service. 31 December 2015.
Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved
2016-07-17.
^ "First Garda Reserve members graduate". RTÉ News. RTÉ. 15 December
2006. Retrieved 26 May 2007.
^ "Falling Garda Reserve numbers limit scope for 'strike' cover".
Irish Times. 21 October 2016.
^ Mike Dwane. "Gardai 'had to pepper spray' disgruntled bidder at
auction". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
^ a b Garvin, Tom (2005). 1922: The Birth of Irish Democracy (3rd
ed.). Gill and Macmillan. p. 111. ISBN 0-312-16477-7.
^ Anne Sheridan (3 September 2008). "New armed garda unit deployed in
Limerick". Limerick Leader. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009.
Retrieved 4 May 2009.
^ "
Garda College

Garda College Yearbook listing weapons training on page 66" (PDF).
Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2014.
^ O'Keeffe, Cormac (20 November 2014). "The problems of trying to get
policing and national security to walk the line". The Irish Examiner.
Retrieved 23 November 2014.
^ Griffin, Dan (21 November 2014). "Ministerial transport costs more
than €14m since 2011". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 November
2014.
^ Williams, Paul; Sheehan, Fionnan; O'Connor, Niall (21 November
2014). "Armed gardai to 'shadow' ministers amid safety fears". Irish
Independent. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
^ Williams, Paul; Sheehan, Fionnan; O'Connor, Niall (18 November
2014). "Beefed up security for ministers as family water bills now
down to €160". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
^ "Ministerial Transport cuts and staffing reductions".
merrionstreet.ie. Irish Government.
^ Brady, Tom (17 April 2013). "ERU on alert for G8 terrorist threat".
Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved
5 December 2014.
^ McNiffe, Liam (1997). A History of the Garda Síochána. Dublin:
Wolfhound Press. p. 24. ISBN 0863275818. On 17 August 1922
three small companies of the Civic Guard from Newbridge took a special
train to Kingsbridge from where they marched to Dame Street and halted
in front of the gates of
Dublin

Dublin Castle. Led by Collins and Staines,
they marched in, and the last of the British army and the RIC marched
out
^ "
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána (Temporary Provisions) Act 1923". Archived from
the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2006.
^ www.corkdesign.com. "
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Historical Society -
PoliceHistory.com". www.policehistory.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
^ Garda.ie – History of the Scott Medal
^ "Murdered garda hero honoured". www.examiner.ie. Irish Examiner.
Archived from the original on 22 February 2006. Retrieved 29 March
2006.
^ "Garda issues". Retrieved 28 December 2014.
^ "
Garda Commissioner

Garda Commissioner
Martin Callinan resigns over whistleblower row".
BBC. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
^ Conor Lally; Fiach Kelly (25 March 2014). "
Garda Commissioner

Garda Commissioner Martin
Callinan resigns over whistleblower row". Irish Times. Retrieved 12
September 2017.
Garda Commissioner

Garda Commissioner
Martin Callinan has tendered his
shock resignation this morning following the deepening crisis over the
penalty points controversy.
^ "
Nóirín O'Sullivan is the new Garda Commissioner". Journal. 25
November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
^ "O'Sullivan to retire over 'unending cycle' of scrutiny". RTÉ News.
11 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
^ Ireland in the Twentieth Century, Tim Pat Coogan
^ "
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Act 1979". Archived from the original on 24
February 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
^ Cormac O'Keeffe (26 November 2014). "Whistleblower welcomes
O'Sullivan appointment as Garda Commissioner". Irish Examiner.
Retrieved 12 January 2015. Her appointment means the bulk of top
justice posts are headed by women, including the Minister for Justice,
the chair of the new Policing Authority, the Chief Justice, the
Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney General, and the Chief
State Solicitor.
^
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda-commissioner-n%C3%B3ir%C3%ADn-o-sullivan-retires-from-office-1.3216074
^ Analysis: McDowell not for turning on Garda reserve, 26 February
2006, The Sunday Business Post Archived 16 September 2009 at the
Wayback Machine.
^ "History of the Army Reserve". The Defense Forces. Retrieved 23
August 2011.
^ Freedom of Information Request Number F-2008-05327. Lateral Entry
into PSNI Archived 2 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine.
^ "Annual Report 2005" Archived 23 August 2006 at the Wayback
Machine..
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Complaints Board.
^ "More than 1,000 complaints against gardaí in year".
www.breakingnews.ie. 15 May 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2006.
^ a b "2,000 complaints made to Garda Ombudsman". RTÉ. 28 May 2010.
Retrieved 29 May 2010.
^ "Oireachtas review recommends sweeping Garda reforms". Irish Times.
3 October 2014.
^ "Ferns Report". Retrieved 28 December 2014.
^ Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of
Dublin

Dublin Archived 17 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine., part 1,
sections 1.92 through 1.96
^ Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of
Dublin

Dublin Archived 17 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine., part 1,
sections 1.92
^ Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of
Dublin

Dublin Archived 17 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine., part 1,
sections 1.93
^ a b Garda apologises for failures, Ciara O'Brien, The Irish Times,
26 November 2009
^ Gardaí to examine abuse report findings, RTÉ News, 27 November
2009.
^ George Birmingham, SC (2004), Report of The Commission of
Investigation(Dean Lyons Case) (PDF)
^ "Frank McBrearty Jnr settles with State for €1.5m". Irish Times.
20 September 2005. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "€11m in payouts for 55 victims of Donegal garda corruption".
Irish Independent. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Supreme Court doubles award to Frank Shortt". RTÉ. 21 March 2007.
Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Donegal nightclub owner Shortt wins miscarriage of justice case".
Irish Times. 31 July 2002. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ Shortt v The Commissioner of An
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána [2007] IESC S9 (21
March 2007)
^ "Garda Goes Berserk". www.indymedia.ie. Retrieved 29 March
2006.
^ "Timeline of events leading to Shatter resignation". RTÉ News. 7
May 2014.
^ "Irish police colluded with IRA during Troubles, says former IRA
member". The Guardian. December 2014.
^ Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into suggestions that members of
the Garda Siochana or other employees of the State colluded in the
fatal shooting of RUC
Chief Superintendent

Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and RUC
Superintendent Robert Buchanan on the 20th March 1989 (PDF) (Report).
Smithwick Tribunal. December 2013.
^ "Acting Clerk of Dáil confirms publication of report from Judge
Peter Smithwick". Houses of Oireachtas (Press Release). December
2013.
^ "Smithwick: Collusion in Bob Buchanan and Harry Breen murders". BBC
News. 3 December 2013.
^ "Irish police colluded in murders of RUC officers Harry Breen and
Bob Buchanan, report finds". Telegraph Newspaper. 3 December
2013.
^ "Seanad hears tribute to Eddie Fullerton". Inishowen News. 22
February 2008. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015.
Retrieved 12 January 2015.
^ Mc Daid, Kieran (26 May 2006). "Home»Today's Stories Inquiry urged
into murder of councillor". Irish Exaniner. Retrieved 12 January
2015.
^ "McDowell considering inquiry into
Eddie Fullerton murder". Breaking
News. 21 June 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
^ "Garda operation at site of
Corrib gas

Corrib gas terminal". RTÉ News. 3
October 2006.
^ "Corrib policing bill tops €1m in month". Breaking News. Retrieved
28 December 2014.
^ "Garda gets
Interpol

Interpol aid on Corrib protesters". The Irish Times. 9
September 2008.
^ "New gas pipeline route likely to be as controversial as original".
The Irish Times. 29 April 2008. Archived from the original on 9
November 2011.
^ "Complaints against 20 Gardaí in Corrib row". Western People. 9 May
2007. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009.
^ "TDs criticise Garda response to 'Shell to Sea' protests".
BreakingNews.ie. 21 November 2006. Archived from the original on 16
September 2009.
^ "'O'Sullivan's replacement may need to be headhunted' - Fianna
Fáil's justice spokesman". Independent News & Media. 11 September
2017.
^ "Garda breath test scandal: How did we get here?". Irish Times. 6
September 2017.
^ "Report 5, Arrest and Detention of 7 persons at Burnfoot, County
Donegal on May 23, 1998 and the Investigation relating to same –
Conclusions and Recommendations: The Danger of Indiscipline" (PDF).
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. 17 August 2006.
p. 254. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September
2006.
^ "Insubordination not widespread, says Garda chief". The Irish Times.
2 September 2006.
^ "Statement by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on
the publication of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Reports of the Morris
Tribunal". Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. 17 August
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^
http://gardaombudsman.ie/gsoc-garda-ombudsman-about-us.htm#GSOCGardaOmbudsmanWhoWeAre
Archived 4 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
^ "General Scheme –
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Amendment Bill" (PDF).
Department of Justice, Ireland. November 2014. Retrieved 12 January
2015.
^ Stephen Collins (7 November 2014). "New Bill provides for set up of
independent policing authority". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 January
2015. Fitzgerald says move ‘most far-reaching reform’ of Garda
since foundation of State ... The general scheme of a Bill providing
for the establishment of the new independent policing authority has
been published by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald.The Minister
received the approval of the Cabinet this week for the heads of the
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2014 which will pave the way for
creation of the authority.
^ Vicky Conway (10 November 2014). "Ireland's Policing Authority".
humanrights.ie. Human Rights in Ireland. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
Outside of it’s remit is security, a shorthand for state security
which is defined as:[terrorism] [terrorist offences within the meaning
of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005]; espionage;
sabotage; acts intended to subvert or undermine parliamentary
democracy or the institutions of the State, but not including lawful
advocacy, protest or dissent, unless carried on in conjunction with
any of those acts; and acts of foreign interference; If a dispute
arises as to whether something is a security matter, the Minister will
make the decision. There’s a pretty clear divide in the Scheme of
the Bill; when something relates to security it falls to the Minister,
when it relates to policing it falls to the Authority.
^ Tom Brady (13 November 2014). "Government appoints outgoing Revenue
Commissioners chairman head of new independent policing authority".
Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 January 2015. Justice Minister Frances
Fitzgerald announced this afternoon that Ms Josephine Feehily would
“bring a wealth of experience and competences” to her new role.She
will be chairperson-designate until legislation establishing the
authority has been fully enacted.
^ a b "An
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána - Public Attitudes Survey - Q1 2017" (PDF).
An Garda Síochána. 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Most happy with gardaí but want improvement – survey". The Irish
Times. 12 October 2008.
^ "Garda survey finds doubts about how force is managed". RTÉ. 26
July 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^ "Garda strike: Here's the deal that's being offered to gardaí".
Journal.ie. 4 November 2016.
^ a b "The Band of An Garda Síochána". Garda website. Archived from
the original on 18 March 2017.
^ "Garda Band for Slane fundraising concert". Meath Chronicle. 13
April 2011.
^ "Thousands at St Patrick's Day event". Irish Independent. 17 March
2013.
^ "Garda band proposal to take part in Pride parade". Journal.ie. 23
May 2014.
^ Ruraidh Conion O'Reilly (13 November 2014). "An Irishman's Diary on
how the Garda Band took the US by storm 'Ireland On Parade' – a tour
to remember". Irish Times.
^ https://www.garda.ie/en/About-Us/Garda-Societies/Garda-Band/
^ http://www.thejournal.ie/garda-band-cost-3749870-Dec2017/?amp=1
^ dismissed for encouraging military coup
^ lost government confidence
^ phone tapping scandal
^ Penalty points controversy
^ whistleblower scandal & breath test scandal
External links[edit]
Law enforcement/Law enforcement topics portal
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Garda Síochána.
Official website
GRA.ie - Website of Garda Representative Association
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin
Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Act 2005
Garda Roll of Honour
Garda Review The Force Magazine since 1923
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Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána (Reserve)
Military
Police

Police Corps
Airport Police
Dublin

Dublin Harbour Police
Dún Laoghaire

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Police
Revenue Commissioners
Criminal Assets Bureau
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement
Northern Ireland
Belfast Harbour Police
Belfast International Airport Constabulary
Larne Harbour Police
Ministry of Defence Police
Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Security Guard Service
Police

Police Service of Northern Ireland
Royal Military Police
Defunct
Belfast Borough Police
Dublin

Dublin Metropolitan Police
Londonderry Borough Police
Irish Republican Police
Royal Irish Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Criminal Investigation Department
Ulster
Special

Special Constabulary
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Garda Síochána
National Support Services
National Bureau of Criminal Investigation
Criminal Assets Bureau
Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau
National Economic Crime Bureau
National Immigration Bureau
Technical Bureau
Operational Support (Air Support Unit
Water Unit
Dog Unit
Mounted Unit)
Public Order Unit
Regional Support Unit
Crime and Security
National Surveillance Unit
Special

Special Detective Unit
Emergency Response Unit
Counter-Terrorism International
Witness Security Programme
Traffic
Traffic Corps
Vehicles
Other
Garda Commissioner
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána College
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Reserve
PULSE
List of Gardaí killed in the line of duty
Scott Medal
Oversight
Garda Síochána

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
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Police

Police forces by country
Africa
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
The Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Americas
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Bahamas
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Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile (Chilean National
Police

Police - Chilean Investigations Police)
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela
Asia / Oceania
Afghanistan
Australia
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Bhutan
Brunei
Burma (Myanmar)
Cambodia
China (Hong Kong - Macau)
India
Indonesia
Iran
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Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
New Zealand
North Korea
South Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Mongolia
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Thailand
Tajikistan
East Timor (Timor-Leste)
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi
Police

Police - Dubai
Police

Police Force)
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Europe
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
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Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
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Hungary
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Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
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Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Non-recognized
Kosovo
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Defunct
Czechoslovakia
East Germany
Serbia and Montenegro
Sovie