Dáil debates
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions
Garda Misconduct Allegations
2:05 pm
Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source
The Minister should not close the door on the option for her, her Department or members of the review panel to engage with people face-to-face afterwards.
That should not be ruled out at this point. The Minister is right in saying that many of them pertain to people who have been through some of the legal processes. Without getting into detail I can tell the Minister of one complaint brought to my attention. A person has sworn an affidavit that no court registrar was in court on the day that person was in court, but the Courts Service is disputing it. So there are cases where the system or the State claims one thing and yet a person is willing to swear and can bring witnesses to back up their position. At this point I urge the Minister to reconsider.
I mention one case in particular, the Sarah Bland case. I ask the Minister or one of her departmental officials to make contact with Ms Bland. She has been back on a number of occasions and I know the Minister has had extensive correspondence with me and others on her case. She is seeking a face-to-face meeting with the Minister and I ask her to take that on board.
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