Complaints board slams May Day Gardai

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday November 18, 2002 18:21 by MG

The Garda Complaints Board has sharply criticised the officers involved in the breaking up of a demonstration in Dublin last May, accusing them of protecting their colleagues from the rigours of the law.

At a press conference today, the complaints board said a number of Gardai avoided the consequences of their actions on May 6th because their heads were turned away from the cameras which recorded much of the violence.

The problem of identification, it said, was further frustrated by the lack of co-operation from individual Gardai.

Not one of the 150 officers involved in policing the Reclaim the Streets demonstration would identify any of their colleagues, some of whom should have faced charges, the board said.

The chairman of the Garda Complaints Board said it appeared that the officers involved in the May Day operation were showing more loyalty to their colleagues than to the force.

These officers had refused to co-operate with the inquiry into the May Day violence and had covered up for people who broke the law.

The board said its hands were tied in relation to the matter because it does not have the legal power to compel individual Gardai to co-operate.

It added that it will be recommending that the Government’s planned independent garda inspectorate be given more powers in this regard whenever it is introduced.

More than 10 people were hospitalised after last May’s demonstration when Gardai attacked protestors who had held a street part in Dublin city centre early in the day.

The left-wing protestors were surrounded and struck with batons as they began marching down Dame Street following the free party.

Several officers were clearly seen on video footage beating unarmed civilians, including women.

A total of seven Dublin-based Gardai are facing criminal charges in connection with the incident and all have been confined to desk duty pending the outcome of their cases.