McDowell: Botched probe is shocking
Justice Minister Michael McDowell tonight said an impenetrable jungle of lies and deceit had swamped the botched garda investigation into an unsolved hit-and-run in Donegal.
Mr McDowell said the Morris Tribunal had uncovered a web of negligence which only surfaced after the inquiry team shattered a wall of obstruction.
He said the level of malpractice which amounted to criminal negligence was both disturbing and depressing.
“Its conclusions are extremely serious and at times shocking,” he said.
He went on: “We have been let down badly by the behaviour of a number of gardai of different ranks in Donegal”.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tonight recognised there were difficulties with some gardaí but added that the new Garda Bill would create a better force.
“In areas there are cases of difficulty in the gardaí, it is a minority.
“But it does happen and we have to deal with that. That is a sad reality but we have to deal with that.”
He said the Garda Siochana Bill currently going through the Oireachtas deals fundamentally with the issues of accountability and management of the force.
“It is a significant and very important Bill and as soon as it is enacted, we will have a better Garda Siochana force,” he added.
Mr Ahern also thanked Judge Frederick Morris and his team for their work on the two tribunal reports to date.
