The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has welcomed the publication by the Garda Inspectorate of a series of “report cards” on the implementation of its recommendations on Garda reform.
Speaking on the release of the Inspectorate’s implementation tables, ICCL Director, Mr Mark Kelly, “these Inspectorate report cards clearly show that, where reform of An Garda is concerned, it really is a case of “much done, more to do”. The ICCL greatly welcomes the fact that the Inspectorate has taken the initiative of placing this important information in the public domain, and that it will be regularly updated.”
However, he urged caution on the adoption of pepper (OC) spray weapons for Gardaí on operational duty, as has been recommended by the Inspectorate. “Pepper spray weapons – including their active ingredients and their chemical solvents and propellants – can have damaging short and long-term effects on a number of bodily systems and functions. These weapons are particularly dangerous if used against people whose health is impaired or on young people,” he said.
“We would need to be sure that anyone issued with such a weapon had been properly trained in its use, and that the specific health effects of the pepper spray concerned had been fully tested prior to its introduction. Consequently, the ICCL endorses the very cautious approach being adopted by the Garda Commissioner on this issue,” said Mr. Kelly.