A former assistant garda commissioner is to head an investigation into complaints about Garda behaviour received by the Garda Complaints Board following the 'Reclaim the Streets' march last month.
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Police tackle portesters during the demonstration over the May bank hholiday that resulted in 41 compliants being made against the Gardai for the allegaed use of excessive force
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The Board received 41 complaints against Gardaí following the march on May 6th, prompting it to invoke a section of the Complaints Act for the first time. This allows the Board to ask its chief executive to investigate a complaint if it considers that the public interest requires an investigation.
This investigation is to be carried out by former assistant commissioner Mr Jim McHugh, it was announced today. Mr McHugh has also previously served as a member of the Board.
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Chairman Mr Gordon Holmes said there had been complaints that the investigative process was not "an arms-length one" but sought to assure members of the media and the general public who attended today’s announcement that Mr McHugh was "a very independent man".
"In serious matters the public want independence and they're going to get this now," said Mr Holmes.
The investigation is expected to be completed within six months, when Mr McHugh will present a report to the Board. The matter can then be referred to a Tribunal of the Board, which would be drawn from members of the Board who had not been involved in the investigation.