Complaints against gardaí climb 5%
The number of complaints against the gardaí increased 5% last year, according to the latest annual report from the Garda Complaints Board.
The body said it received 1,232 complaints in 2004, only 531 which were deemed to be "admissible".
A total of 35 cases were resolved informally, while 31 relating to minor disciplinary breaches were referred to the Garda Commissioner and 27 relating to serious breaches were referred to the Complaints Tribunal.
Meanwhile, reports this morning said a statement made by Environment Minister Dick Roche five years ago was removed from a garda file before it was sent to the Complaints Board and the DPP.
Mr Roche's statement related to a case of alleged garda brutality against one of the minister's constituents.
Reports this morning said the Complaints Board only became aware of the existence of the minister's statement when he was interviewed during a television documentary last year.
