The Garda Commissioner has said that people should be patient and await the outcome of the investigation into alleged corruption within the Gardaí in Donegal. He was reacting to public and political criticism of the fact that while five civilians have been charged in connection with the investigation no Gardaí have so far appeared before the courts.
Commissioner Pat Byrne said that it was the decision of the DPP to decide who is charged and the Gardaí along with the public must wait and see. He pointed out, however, that disciplinary measures have already been instigated against a number of Gardaí in Donegal. He was speaking at a conference in Malahide in Dublin this morning, entitled "Police Officers Achieving a Balance".
Commissioner Byrne discussed the handling by Gardaí of the investigation into the disappearance of Fermanagh man Paul McQuaid. Mr McQuaid was found dead last week in a laneway in Dublin City Centre. Commissioner Byrne said that much of the criticism was unfair.
He sympathised with the McQuaid family but insisted that resources were not a problem in this investigation. He said that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr McQuaid's death was continuing. He said that if mistakes were made Gardaí would learn from them in the future.
