The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) received 74 complaints against Gardai in Donegal last year, it has been revealed.
It comes as complaints to the GSOC against gardai reduced last year.
The most common matters complained of were an abuse of authority, neglect of duty, discourtesy, and non-fatal offences: allegations of a criminal offence listed in the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, for example, assault, harassment or false imprisonment.
The Garda watchdog undertook 17 public interest investigations, which were started by the organisation without a complaint or referral by the Garda Commissioner.
National map of complaints (GSOC)
There were 17 files sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), resulting in four directions to prosecute, nine directions for no prosecutions and four decisions pending at the end of 2018.
There were also 24 protected disclosures were made to GSOC by members and/or employees of An Garda Siochana.
The Garda Commissioner made 74 discipline sanctions on individual gardai following complaints to and/or investigations by GSOC.
The watchdog report said: “Gardaí investigating themselves runs the risk that the investigation is seen as neither full nor fair.
“This may do a disservice to the investigators but the lack of oversight on such investigations leaves the garda organisation open to challenge.
“It is in the interests of the gardaí to be able to confirm that they do not investigate themselves so that when a decision not to prosecute/discipline a member over alleged misconduct is made, no suggestion of cover-up is able to be generated.
“This is also an issue GSOC plans to pursue in 2019, especially as new legislation is being drafted and particularly in light of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland’s recommendation that all complaints should be investigated by the new oversight body.”
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