Garda body accuses Drew Harris of leaving 'legacy of fear and distrust' at annual conference
DREW HARRIS HAS been accused of leaving a 'legacy of fear and distrust' among gardaí after his almost seven-year stint in the Garda Commissioner job, according to an officers' body.
The Garda Representatives Association (GRA) further accused of Commissioner Drew Harris of dismantling community policing thanks to reforms pushed through during his term overseeing the force.
The GRA kicked off its annual conference this week in Killarney, Co Kerry. At the outset it has outlined a belief that the role of a frontline garda has been diminished and degraded, with this year's conference carrying the theme 'It Was a Job Worth Doing'.
At the core of its criticism was the Operating Policing Model which was introduced in 2019. This has seen a restructuring at regional and divisional levels, with the ambition having been to improve community policing according to the needs of each local community.
But GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said that Harris has implemented a model of policing that 'isn't working', claiming that it has 'single handedly removed community policing' from Ireland.
The GRA, which represents over 11,000 officers, said that this was because Harris had has tried to implement a 'failed' UK model.
'If you were to analyze the commissioner's term, I suppose you'd have to say that he's implemented an operation policing model that isn't working. He has removed community policing from Ireland, which was the envy of Europe. The system we had, that's completely gone,' Slevin told reporters.
'He's had the biggest budget available to him over his career, over his term of office, yet we still have serious issues in relation to recruitment and retention within the force.
'I believe that the numbers we currently have are the same that were in the force when the Commissioner took up his role, even though the population has increased exponentially.'
Ronan Slevin at today's GRA conference
CONOR Ó MEARÁIN
CONOR Ó MEARÁIN
There is also much anger towards Harris because of a 'severe' discipline and suspension policy, Slevin said, further claiming this has hampered members when using force while policing.
He added that the number of gardaí currently serving is roughly the same as when Harris took up his role, despite promises to increase the number of officers.
Advertisement
Deputy GRA General Secretary James Morrisroe said that community policing is about 'frontline police knowing their communities while being visible and engaged in those communities', which he said allows these gardaí to develop respectful partnerships to solve problems and achieve community safety.
'That is not happening,' Morrisroe said, 'It's plain to see. And I think members of the public tell us on a daily basis, it's not happening.'
Quoting the
Commission on the Future of Policing
, the 2021 report outlining recommendations for the organisation, Morrisroe said that it noted that 'the culture should be one of a team of professionals working together, not a hierarchy where foot soldiers await instructions from above'.
Morrisroe added that the report said that communication should be 'personal interaction' and not written documents.
'We see that every single day in an Garda Síochána, where documents are posted on our portal and we're supposed to read them and train up on them. And that is not what the Commission of the Future of Policing recommended,' Morrisroe said.
'Employees should have the tools, training, uniform, vehicles and equipment needed to do their jobs. Well, we don't, so that's a failure.'
This was the latest edition of the conference where the Garda Commissioner was not invited.
Two years ago, the membership of the association voted overwhelmingly that they had no confidence in Harris and therefore did not invite him to attend.
This has seen the new Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan also not attend the annual gathering.
Contacted for comment, a Garda spokesperson said on behalf of the commissioner that he was happy to work with the GRA and gardaí on the issues raised.
'As he has done in the past, Commissioner Harris would have been more than happy to attend the GRA conference and engage with GRA delegates on important matters for all Gardaí at the GRA conference, as well as recognise the great work done by Gardaí every day in keeping people safe,' the spokesperson said.
'However, the GRA Central Executive Committee has not invited the Garda Commissioner to address and discuss such matters directly with Gardaí at the GRA's Conference.
'An Garda Síochána continues to meet with all Garda Associations, collectively, and separately on a wide range of issues.'
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Plans to increase new garda recruits to 1,000 per year
The Garda Commissioner says An Garda Síochána is planning to increase the number of new garda recruits to 1,000 every year. Drew Harris will tell the Oireachtas Justice Committee this afternoon they are working with the Office of Public Works to to increase the capacity of the Garda College to accommodate 250 new recruits. He says they want to run two recruitment competitions, with four intakes of two hundred and fifty each, to the Garda College in Templemore every year. He also says the gardaí are currently in discussions with other third level institutions regarding recruit garda training and is committed to meeting the Government's target of 5,000 new gardaí over the next five years. The figure of 1,000 new gardaí is unlikely to be met this year at current recruitment rates. The Commissioner has also rejected claims that the level of resignations from An Garda Síochána is high, pointing to the fact that 140 of 14,000 resigned, a ratio of 1% and 29 fewer than the year before. The figure is lower than the UK and some police forces, he says, have a resignation rate of 10% He also said the recent loss of the roads policing Garda Kevin Flatley who died in the line of duty serves "as a stark reminder of the risks gardaí face" and puts "into sharp focus the dangers that exist on our roads today." Last year, one driver was arrested every hour of every day for driving under the influence of drink or drugs and there was a 14% increase in the number of Fixed Charge Notices and penalty points for mobile phones. Seventy people have died on the roads so far this year, five less than last year, a reduction which the Commissioner points out "is no consolation for the bereaved families."


Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Man, 30s, arrested after multiple vehicles set on fire at Cork Airport
A man in his 30s has been arrested after a number of cars were set on fire at Cork Airport Business Park. Gardaí were alerted to the scene at approximately 1.15am on Tuesday morning (June 10), with Cork City fire services arriving to extinguish the flames. A male aged in his early 30s was arrested a the scene and is currently being detained at a local Garda station. A man in his 30s has been arrested after a number of car were set on fire at Cork Airport Business Park. Pic: Gabriel12/Shutterstock A statement from a Garda spokesperson reads: 'Gardaí attended the scene of criminal damage that occurred at Cork Airport Business Park, in the early hours of this morning Tuesday 10th June, 2025 at approximately 1.15am 'A number of cars were set alight and the Cork City fire service extinguished the fires,' they added. 'One male, aged in his early 30s was arrested at the scene and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. 'Investigations ongoing.' It is understood that no flights were affected by the fire at the business park.


Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
Death of Garda Kevin Flatley a ‘stark' reminder of risks facing members of force
The death of Garda Kevin Flatley was a 'stark' reminder of the risks gardaí face while on duty, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will tell the Oireachtas justice committee later. Mr Harris, who is due to brief TDs and senators about the force's operations, community policing and road safety, will use an appearance before an Oireachtas committee to 'reiterate the importance of responsible driver behaviour'. Garda Flatley, a 49-year-old father of two, was killed on duty last month while policing a speed checkpoint duty near Swords, Dublin. Izzet Can Berber, the motorcyclist involved in the collision in which Garda Flatley was fatally injured, died in hospital last week from his injuries . READ MORE 'The recent loss of our colleague Garda Kevin Flatley served as a stark reminder of the risks our gardaí face while on duty, but also put into sharp focus the dangers that exist on our roads today,' Mr Harris will tell the committee. He will note that despite 'significant roads policing enforcement', there had been 70 road deaths so far this year as of June 5th. 'And so, I want to reiterate the importance of responsible driver behaviour,' he will say. 'I appeal to all road users – in the interest of their safety and those around them – that they slow down, never drive under the influence of an intoxicant, wear a safety belt, and never use a mobile phone while driving.' The committee will also hear the commissioner defend the staff retention rate in An Garda Síochána . He will argue that the rate of resignations from the force is below those in the UK and some European police forces. Mr Harris will also stress that the Garda's new operating model, the first time the structure of the force has changed since the 1920s, has been a success – particularly for survivors of domestic violence. He will also tell the committee that there have so far been 12 prosecutions under a stalking law enacted last year.