TWO INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERWAY INTO THE CONDUCT OF GARDAÍ ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARREST OF TWO WOMEN DURING PROTESTS OVER THE CORRIB GAS PROJECT IN NORTH MAYO LATE LAST WEEK.

THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION SAID IT HAD INITIATED AN INQUIRY “IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST” INTO “REPORTED GARDA CONDUCT”.

A SEPARATE INVESTIGATION IS ALSO BEING CONDUCTED BY A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE FORCE TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS AND REPORT ON THE MATTER.

LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUP POBAL CHILL CHOMAIN HAS WELCOMED THE INTERVENTION OF THE GARDA OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION BUT SAY THAT GARDAI SHOULD NOT BE INVESTIGATING THEMSELVES.

SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GROUP JOHN MONAGHAN TOLD MIDWEST NEWS THIS MORNING THAT THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE SHOULD ALSO BE INVOLVED.

HE SAID THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, IS DISGUSTED BY THE REPORTED CONVERSATION OF GARDAI IN THIS CASE.