It was unsatisfactory that the Minister for Justice had only just received a report from the Garda Commissioner, sought six months ago, about the treatment of two women who received an apology and damages.
The Minister, Mr McDowell, told the Dáil he would have to go back to the Garda authorities for further explanation and elaboration of aspects of the report which he was not happy with. Furthermore, he said it was "somewhat unsatisfactory" that the report had taken so long.
The report concerns the arrest of two women on Grafton Street, Dublin, in 1998 and their subsequent treatment at Pearse Street Garda station.
The two women took a case, which was settled in the High Court in July last year, with an apology and undisclosed damages.
Labour's justice spokesman, Mr Joe Costello, who tabled the question for discussion said it was "amazing" the Minister only received the report from the Garda Commissioner yesterday.
Victims of serious mistreatment by gardaí "have been paid €6 million in compensation, largely in out-of-court settlements, so that they would not appear in the media", the Labour deputy said.
The case involved "absolutely disgraceful events" in which two young women "were brutally assaulted by gardaí, then had a case taken against them by those gardaí, counter-charging them with assault. The case was dropped when it came to court," Mr Costello said.
He believed it was wrong to allow the gardaí in question to continue their normal duties while the report was awaited, and in a case like this "the gardaí were out of control and felt they could act with impunity".
Mr McDowell could not comment because he did not have time to consider it fully, but might make a "more useful comment" in a few weeks.
