Drew Harris has ‘legacy of fear & mistrust' with rank-and-file gardai as GRA blast top cop for ‘failed' policing model
The
2
GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said that Harris left 'a legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members'
Credit: CONOR Ó MEARÁIN
And they say he has 'failed' to implement policies recommended by the Commission on Future Policing.
The Commissioner will finish up in his role in September, when he is due to retire.
Speaking ahead of the conference kicking off today, GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said: 'If you were to analyse the Commissioner's term I suppose you'd have to say that he's implemented an operational policing model that is not working.
Read more in News
'Single-handedly he has removed community policing from Ireland, the system we had, that's completely gone.
'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 retention 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 utilising or being confident in the use of force when doing their job.
Most read in Irish News
'I suppose you could say that he's left a legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members.'
James Morrisroe, the GRA's Deputy General Secretary, insists that the Operating Policing Model is simply not working.
'FAILED UK MODEL'
The association, which represents over 11,000 rank and file gardai, want an immediate review of the divisional system which was introduced in 2019.
Morrisroe said: 'The operational policing model is a failed
'So, it's based on the commission of future police. And seven years ago, the blueprint going forward, when Commissioner Harris took up his role, was commission of future policing.
'I went through that, and I looked through it, and the operation policing model as it is now is anything but what was recommended in that.
HARRIS STATEMENT
'I wonder what the authors of the Commissioner of Future Policing who put a lot of time and effort into it, think of the current system that's in place.'
In a statement, Commissioner Harris said: 'Not withstanding the decision of the GRA Central Executive Committee to not invite me to the Annual Delegate Conference, I remain, as always, open to productive and fruitful engagement with all the Staff Associations, particularly at Annual Conferences, which offer an unparalleled opportunity for professional and respectful engagement.'
2
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will finish up in his role in September, when he is due to retire
Credit: PA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
6 hours ago
- The Journal
Simon Harris says he will try to make a 'national day of protest over Gaza' happen
TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS took to Instagram today to endorse a letter advocating for a national day of protest over Gaza, and said that he will talk to colleagues on 'how to make this happen'. Harris was responding to a letter written by Micheal Cush that was published in The Irish Times on Thursday. The letter states that the Irish government has been strong in its condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, but that the government and the people of Ireland are growing frustrated as they feel 'helpless' to prevent the ongoing conflict. Advertisement 'But together, the Government and the people might be much more influential,' Dublin man Cush wrote in his letter. 'If the Government were to call a national day of protest, making clear that it was a condemnation of atrocities in Gaza, not of Israel's right to self-determination or self-defence, the turnout would likely be enormous.' Today, Harris posted the letter alongside a statement endorsing Cush's suggestion. 'The people of Ireland stand with the people of Palestine. We stand for human rights, for international law, for a two state solution, for aid to flow, for hostages to be released. We stand for peace. We stand for an end to genocide,' Harris wrote. 'The suggestion for a national day or moment of solidarity made by Michael Cush in the letter above is sensible and a good idea. It could be powerful if many countries did it together. I will now talk to colleagues on how to make this happen.' Related Reads EU tells Israel to 'stop killing people' who are seeking food and aid 'Humanitarian city' for Palestinians would be a 'concentration camp', says former Israeli PM The Irish government has been one of the few within Europe that have labelled Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide'. However, it has faced intense criticism from staunch supporters of the 'Free Palestine' movement over the Central Bank's role in facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds, as well as the delay in passing the Occupied Territories Bill. Internationally, pressure has been ramping up on countries to take decisive action as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens. The territory's population is facing malnutrition and starvation as an aid crisis continues. Overnight, at least 25 people were killed by Israeli air strikes and gunshots , according to health officials and the ambulance service today. 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
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Tánaiste backs national day of protest over Gaza: ‘I will talk to colleagues on how to make this happen'
Mr Harris was responding to a letter written by Michael Cush and published in The Irish Times earlier this week, asking for the government to call a national day of protest. The letter outlined this would be a condemnation of 'atrocities in Gaza, not of Israel's right to self-determination or self-defence', predicting the turnout would be 'enormous'. In a social media post shared on Saturday, the Tánaiste said he plans to talk with Government colleagues about how to bring plans for a national day of protest forward. 'The people of Ireland stand with the people of Palestine. We stand for human rights, for international law, for a two state solution, for aid to flow, for hostages to be released. We stand for peace. We stand for an end to genocide,' he wrote in a statement on Instagram alongside the letter. 'The suggestion for a national day or moment of solidarity made by Michael Cush in the letter above is sensible and a good idea. It could be powerful if many countries did it together. I will now talk to colleagues on how to make this happen.' This move comes as the starvation crisis in Gaza deepens further. Health ministry officials earlier this week said more than 110 people had starved to death in the besieged enclave, many of them children. Reports earlier in the week from journalists in Gaza told of how doctors were now fainting from hunger as they battled to save the lives of many sick with malnutrition issues, as well as those injured in shootings and bombings by the Israeli Defence Forces. A statement from news organisations in recent days said many of their journalists who are operating within Gaza are also now at risk of starvation, as well as much of the 2.2m people in the Gaza strip. More than 55,000 people have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October 7, 2023, including thousands of women and children. This followed a terrorist attack by militant group Hamas and affiliates inside Israel on October 7, which saw 1,200 Israelis killed as well as 250 more kidnapped. Some are still held captive in Gaza, nearly two years later.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
One of my regrets is that it took so long, says Gerry Adams on end Provisional IRA's armed campaign two decades ago
GERRY Adams has spoken of his regret that the end of the Provisional IRA campaign took decades to bring about. The 2005 statement by the Provisional IRA announced the end of its armed campaign. Advertisement Now former He also said he regretted the number of lives lost during the Troubles as he reflected on the upcoming 20th anniversary of the The IRA formally ended its 35-year paramilitary campaign on July 28 2005 when former republican prisoner Seanna Walsh read a statement. While a number of ceasefires had been announced and collapsed since 1994, the 2005 statement saw the start of the decommissioning of weapons. Advertisement Read more in News The statement said that members had been instructed to use exclusively peaceful means, and not to engage in any other activities whatsoever. Adams described the move as seismic, and an 'indication of confidence' by 'all the IRA' and not just its leadership. He said: 'The statement came after there had been some sort of internal process, a huge vote of confidence in people. 'It took decades for it to be put together. Advertisement Most Read in The Irish Sun 'You have to go back to Father Alec Reid, Father Des Wilson, myself, 'REGRET IT TOOK SO LONG' 'It took all that time to do that, but that's what the IRA said in its statement, that they believed there was now a peaceful way to pursue republican and democratic objectives, and ordered its volunteers to not be engaged in any other activity whatsoever, and authorised contact with the International Commission on Decommissioning. 'It took decades and one of my regrets is that it took so long. In my humble opinion it took so long because the two governments, particularly the British government, only sought peace on its terms, which meant defeat the IRA, it meant defeat republicanism and that doesn't work, our people are resolute.' 1 Gerry Adams regrets that it took so long to bring armed campaign to an end to Provos armed campaign Credit: Reuters Advertisement
