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Senior gardaí say the inability of armed response units to reach rural areas within a reasonable response time is a key policing concern

Senior gardaí call for more armed response units

Senior gardaí have said the absence of a police presence along the border is a factor in the recent increase in subversive and organised crime in the area.

Ireland • 08 May 19

The man attended the emergency department at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar

GSOC to investigate circumstances around death of man

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is to carry out a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man after an incident at the emergency department of the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.

Ireland • 25 Mar 19

GSOC were considering taking the step of carrying out an external review

GSOC chair warns over independence from force

Chairperson of the Garda Ombudsman Judge Mary Ellen Ring has told the Minister for Justice that the Ombudsman's use of serving gardaí to assist them with a major criminal investigation would impact on the Ombudsman's perceived independence from the force.

Garda Ombudsman • 16 Sep 18

GSOC got the go ahead to hire five of the 12 staff requested

Minister told GSOC staff request 'excessive'

Senior officials at the Department of Justice privately briefed the then Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald last year that a request by the Garda Ombudsman for extra staff to investigate protected disclosures was "excessive".

News • 18 Feb 18

Judge Mary Ellen Ring said the system is cumbersome and overly bureaucratic

GSOC practices changed after Galvin inquiry

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has changed its practices following the judicial inquiry into its investigation which found it was a mistake to subject a garda sergeant to a criminal investigation.

News • 21 Sep 16

Martin Callinan said he is satisfied that no surveillance of GSOC was carried out by gardaí

Callinan says gardaí did not bug GSOC

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has said no member of An Garda Síochána was involved in any surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission offices.

News • 14 Feb 14

Kieran FitzGerald told Prime Time the commission would not be publishing a report on the issue

Ombudsman chair suspects leak in GSOC

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission chairman has told an Oireachtas Committee that he believes there is a leak in GSOC.

News • 12 Feb 14

Garda Ombudsman suspected that its offices were bugged

Shatter 'unaware' of Garda Ombudsman bugging fears

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said he did not know that the Garda Ombudsman Commission suspected its offices in Dublin were bugged last year.

News • 09 Feb 14

Simon O'Brien said he would not be doing his job properly if he was popular

Commission says details on informants never leaked

The Chairman of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has said the organisation treats any information it receives about garda informants with "the upmost sensitivity".

News • 21 Nov 13

Martin Callinan said all informants are to be handled through formal channels

Garda Commissioner rejects ombudsman claims

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has rejected a claim by the Garda Ombudsman that informant handling systems can be bypassed or ignored.

News • 20 Nov 13

Commission Chairman Simon O'Brien said the current situation is unacceptable

Gardaí criticised for delaying Ombudsman inquiries

The Garda Ombudsman has strongly criticised the Garda Síochána for delaying its investigations in spite of a drop in the number of complaints against members of the force last year.

News • 23 May 13

Garda Ombudsman