The Garda Commissioner has expressed concern about the alteration of gun licensing application forms by gardaí after gun enthusiasts initiated legal action, according to the Minister for Justice.
Minister Alan Shatter confirmed that he has received an interim report from Commissioner Martin Callinan in relation to a recent High Court case.
In that court action, a number of shooting enthusiasts had sought to overturn decisions by Garda Chief Superintendents to refuse them licences for certain weapons.
During the case earlier this month, Mr Justice John Hedigan expressed concern that a "substantial number" of applications had been altered by gardaí.
He said it was disturbing that the forms had been altered after they had been previously finalised and signed. This occurred after these proceedings were initiated, according to the judge.
After the case had been settled, the Minister for Justice asked the Garda Commissioner to examine the issues raised in the action.
In reply to a written Parliamentary Question from Fine Gael's Charlie Flanagan, Minister Alan Shatter confirmed that he has now received the interim report from Commissioner Callinan.
"The Commissioner has indicated that he shares the concern expressed by the judge in the case about the alteration of documents after proceedings had commenced and, in the first instance, has sought an explanation as to the circumstances in which this occurred," according to the Minister.
He also said that Commissioner Callinan is addressing "as a matter of urgency" the process of firearms licensing and "the desirability of application forms being completed fully and properly and has indicated that as part of that review he intends to remove any impediments being experienced by his officers in achieving this".
A final report on the matter is still being prepared by the Garda Commissioner.
