Garda union boss slams Commissioner Drew Harris over 'legacy of fear & mistrust'
The leading Garda union has slammed Commissioner Drew Harris' legacy on the force - just months before he steps down.
'I suppose you could say that he's left a legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members,' Garda Representative Association (GRA) General Secretary Ronan Slevin said on Monday evening.
Mr Slevin was speaking at the opening of the 11,200-strong organisation's annual conference, being held over three days in Killarney, Co Kerry.
The conference also heard calls for trainee gardai to have their pay almost doubled.
Mr Slevin made his comments about the Commissioner as Mr Harris, who has been at the helm of the force since September 2018, prepares to retire later this year.
He had been due to retire in June, but the government has asked him to stay on until September - so it can find a replacement.
But his relations with the GRA - which represents members of Garda rank in the 14,000-strong force - have deteriorated in recent years and he was not invited to this year's conference.
The same thing happened last year - following an almost unanimous vote of no confidence in Mr Harris by GRA members in September 2023.
Now, with Mr Harris' tenure coming to an end, the GRA leadership pulled no punches when asked what his legacy would be.
And Mr Slevin highlighted the Commissioner's introduction of the so-called Operating Policing Model.
That is aimed at making the force more modern - but garda associations are opposed to it as they claim it damages community links.
When asked what Commissioner Harris' legacy would be, Mr Slevin said: 'If you were to analyse the commissioner's term, I suppose you'd have to say that he's implemented an operation policing model that isn't working.
"(It) single handedly has removed community policing from Ireland, which was the envy of Europe. The system we had, that's completely gone.'
And he also criticised him for not increasing Garda numbers - and not persuading serving officers to stay in the job.
He said: 'He's had the biggest budget available to him over his term of office, yet we still have serious issues in relation to recruitment and attention within the force.
'I believe that the numbers we currently have are the same that were in force when the commissioner took up his role, even though the population has increased exponentially.
'He's responsible for the application of a severe discipline and suspension policy which has hampered our members in being confident in the use of force when doing their job.
'And I suppose you could say that he's left the legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members.'
Mr Slevin also said the next Commissioner - set to be announced by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan in July - had work to do to rebuild officers' confidence.
He said: "We have a long list of issues and concerns that started quite a number of years ago, and we have been endeavouring over those years trying to consult and negotiate with the Commissioner on those. That never happened.
'I think that any new incoming commissioner has to initially address the concerns that the members have on the ground.
'There is a serious recruitment problem. It is well documented at this stage, and there's a serious retention problem, and the new commissioner can address the retention issue nearly immediately, removing some of the bureaucracy that's required on a daily basis, supporting the members on the front line. The policing model isn't working.
'Instead of following the government plan, the commissioner has to independently assess the policing plan that's out there and adapt the plan to ensure that the public get the best service that they require, while also listening to the members on ground.
'We're the experts, we're the ones that are enforcing the law every day of the week, and we're the ones that are encountering the problems, and it seems to be a blockage with those issues going up to the current Commissioner.'
He also repeated fears raised by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors earlier this month that the number of officers who can retire in the coming years could lead to an exodus from the force.
He said: 'I can see an accelerated rate of retirements now that we have members coming to 30 year service.
'There's a glut of members that will come to that service within the next two or three years, we'll be talking close on three or 4000 members will be eligible to retire in total.
'And if those issues aren't addressed, I could see the numbers dip well below 14,000 and then there will be serious issues.'
Meanwhile GRA President Mark O'Meara has called for the allowance paid to trainee gardai to be almost doubled.
Trainees are currently paid €350 a week - but the GRA wants that hiked to €670 a week.
Mr O'Meara said: 'It has to be addressed, and has to be addressed now.
'It has to happen. End of story.
'We can have sound bites that are going to fill headlines, but that's not going to fill garda stations.
'It's not going to put boots and men and women on men and women on the streets to enforce police - we're seeing that.
'They just have to do it. It's not a choice. If you want to take this seriously and to solve the issue, then you have to resource it - it costs money.'
We have asked An Garda Siochana and the Department of Justice for comment.
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