The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has criticised comments by the General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association.
PJ Stone said at the GRA annual conference that the vast majority of law-abiding citizens did not want an Ombudsman. Mr Stone said most complaints to the Garda Complaints Board were from people with subversive or criminal leanings.
The Acting Director of the ICCL, Liam Herrick, said Mr Stone's comments highlight the need for a restoration of confidence in the force.
Mr Stone also strongly criticised the Minister for Justice, John O'Donoghue, for not accepting the word of the Garda Commissioner on prior knowledge of the Omagh bombing and on the disturbances in Dublin last week.
He said the investigation into those disturbances would reveal another side of the story where property was damaged and Gardaí and civilians were attacked.
Earlier, GRA President, Greg Fogarty, criticised the courts for being too lenient on criminals. He said that Gardaí were becoming more frustrated at the courts inability or unwillingness to see the full resources of the law, used to control law-breakers.
Mr Fogarty also called for mandatory minimum sentencing to be introduced and enforced. He said the courts must show more resolve in dealing with criminals.
