GRA conference: Some judges "seem to delight" in embarrassing gardaí giving evidence in court while criminals look on, the outgoing president of the Garda Representative Association, Mr Michael Kirby, has said.
Addressing the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, at the association's annual conference in Bundoran, he stated: "Some of our members have to endure and suffer in silence over-the-top criticisms from a minority of members on the Bench, who seem to delight in embarrassing and humiliating them in open court and often in full view of a delighted audience of criminals.
"What do you think that does for morale? And who are these privileged elite answerable to? Effectively no one."
Mr Kirby added that resources continued to be a major issue for the force.
Despite Government pledges to increase the force by 2,000 officers, the Garda Síochána had grown by just 121 in the last 22 months.
If this rate continued, it would take 20 years to recruit the additional 2,000 gardaí.
The force could not be blamed when serious public order issues arose, Mr Kirby told delegates. The reality was that gardaí were simply being called on to deal with the shortcomings of other agencies in the State.
Educational, health and social welfare agencies had a responsibility in preventing anti-social behaviour. The legal profession, the judiciary and the prison system also had a role to play.
Such was the extent of anti-social behaviour on the streets that some 150 gardaí were forced to take time off because they were injured while on duty.
"Another 1,000 members per annum are assaulted by thugs who confront us with blood-filled syringes, knives, machetes, and increasingly, with firearms.
"Members have been killed in the line of duty. Others have been forceD into early retirement as a result of such attacks."
Incoming GRA president, Mr Dermot O'Donnell, told the conference the upcoming May Day weekend posed a serious threat to the safety of the 5,000 gardaí who will be on duty.
However, he hoped the day would not be remembered for "ugly scenes of violence" but as the 6th anniversary of the "blue flu" in 1999, when officers called in sick in protest at poor remuneration levels in the force.
Mr O'Donnell added the association needed to support gardaí who are involved in ongoing tribunals. This was a stressful experience for both themselves and their families.
"In this regard I am pleased that the venue for this year's conference is in Co Donegal, and to all our members and their families touched by and suffering unacceptable levels of stress and anxiety from [tribunals and inquiries], I offer both my personal support and assurance that as president I will stand with them and by them, come what may."
Some Donegal-based members of the force are, at the Barr Tribunal, facing allegations of serious wrongdoing.