GSOC HAS WELCOMED the Cooke report, quoting how the inquiry found that it “acted in good faith”.
The inquiry was carried out into the alleged bugging of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) by retired High Court Judge John Cooke.
GSOC has said that it agrees with the Judge’s observation that “the evidence does not support the proposition that actual surveillance of the kind asserted in the Sunday Times article took place and much less that it was carried out by members of the Garda Síochána”.
GSOC says that this mirrors key findings of their own investigation which stated that GSOC was “satisfied that our databases were not compromised” and that “there was no evidence of garda misconduct.”
The report also stated that “in the world of covert surveillance and counter surveillance techniques, it is ultimately extremely difficult to determine with complete certainty whether unexplained anomalies of the kinds identified in this instance were or were not attributable to unlawful intrusion”.
Working Relationship
The acting Commissioner of the An Garda Síochána Nóirín O’Sullivan has said that she is currently reviewing the Cooke report.
“An Garda Síochána acknowledges Judge Cooke’s finding that ‘the evidence does not support the proposition that actual surveillance…took place and much less that it was carried out by members of the Garda Síochána’.
An Garda Síochána also acknowledges that the working relationship between An Garda Síochána and GSOC needs to be more constructive.
“The relationship does continue to improve and An Garda Síochána is committed to building on that positive engagement with GSOC so as to ensure that there is an independent, objective and effective relationship between us, which is vital for maintaining public trust in policing”.
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