Practice and procedure: There was no evidence to suggest the Garda Representative Association (GRA) had encouraged members to account fully for their actions when questioned by the inquiry, the Morris Tribunal report has concluded.
While the GRA's chief executive, Mr P J Stone, told the tribunal that members were encouraged to account for their duties, the tribunal said the opposite appeared to be the case.
"It is completely unacceptable that any individual member of the GRA should see itself as mandated to prevent the uncovering of the truth," the report said.
The GRA, meanwhile, said it accepted the findings of the report. A spokesman said the association would review the report and would respond in due course.
"The findings of Justice Morris obviously sadden all of the hard-working members of An Garda Síochána who are committed to policing this State in difficult circumstances," the GRA said in a statement.
"It would be a great pity if all members of the force were tarnished by the findings of this report."
It added that it would review its own practices and procedures as a result of observations, while it has also sought a meeting with the Garda Commissioner to discuss the implications of the report.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said the report was "very extensive". Its national executive met yesterday and each "took away" a copy of the report, a spokesman said. While the executive will not meet again until next month, the association's spokesman could not say if it would respond before then.
He added any response would have to take into consideration the possibility that court proceedings may arise from the report.
The tribunal concluded that the Garda was losing its character as a disciplined force, and warned of a "disaster" unless this was addressed.
"This is detrimental to the morale of members who wish to serve within the context of a police force that has a proud record. It is undermining respect for authority both within the force and in relation to those who have to interact with it.
"Ultimately the gradual erosion of discipline within An Garda Síochána is a developing situation that will, sooner or later, lead to disaster."
The tribunal report itself was a clear instance of the "breakdown in clear lines of authority" within the Garda.
It said every member of the force should be immediately obliged to account for any action taken by him or her, while any member who does not comply should be suspended.
"It should be a specific breach of discipline to fail to account in that regard and one which, in the tribunal's view, merits dismissal," the report said.
The tribunal also rejected the GRA's description of the Garda as a "service industry" as untenable, given the powers of a modern police force.
"\ are vested with enormous powers and are obliged to account for these in a matter that preserves the integrity of the process of interaction through force with the people living in this country," the report said.
The report recommended a new system of discipline within the Garda to replace existing procedures which can often take years to expedite.
It said these procedures were, in effect, internal criminal trials, and should be replaced by a system where managers have online responsibility in dealing with the work of subordinates.