Gardaí wish new Inspectorate chief all the best
Rank-and-file gardaí joined senior officers today to wish the new head of the Garda Siochana Inspectorate success in the role.
Both the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Garda Representative Association said they looked forward to meeting former Boston police commissioner Kathleen O’Toole.
Joe Dirwan, AGSI president, said it was important the Inspectorate was now ready to start work.
“We are delighted that this stage has been reached in the establishment of the Inspectorate and we wish Ms O’Toole every success and all speed in establishing the machinery to enable her to carry out her role,” Mr Dirwan said.
“We have long called for an independent body which would look at the practices, policies and procedures of the Garda Siochana in an impartial and objective manner with a view to introducing changes and improvements,” he said.
“We look forward to meeting her as soon as possible.”
A spokesman for the GRA said: “We welcome Ms O’Toole in her role and hope that she would be able to operate in as independent a forum as possible.
“We would hope that she would operate independent of any political guidance considering the constitution of the inspectorate which is under the direct control of the Minister of Justice.”
And he also said the GRA was looking forward to meeting Ms O’Toole.
The 52-year-old was appointed to the post after 27 years with police forces in America. A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts she started her career with the Boston police as a patrol officer in 1979.
Quickly rising through the ranks of Boston, State and Metropolitan forces, Ms O’Toole first came to Irish attention when she served on an international panel headed by Lord Patten, which drew up a radical programme for police reform in Northern Ireland.
The Inspectorate will examine the operation and administration of the force before reporting to the Justice Minister.
Two deputy inspectors will be selected over the coming months before the office is fully up and running and it is understood Ms O’Toole will have a series of briefings with officials at the Department of Justice and garda management.
Ms O’Toole said it was too early to identify her main priorities but said ensuring officers had sufficient resources, such as stab vests, would be a major issue along with making sure that existing resources were being managed effectively and efficiently.
But the GRA remain sceptical that she will be able to deliver what they want as and when it is required.
The spokesman added that even if the need for further resources was identified officials at the Department of Justice still had to give it the OK.
“A leopard does not just change its spots, they are notoriously conservative.”
