It wasnât like they were diluting an elite force though glas.i actually think most gardai are much maligned, but itâs pretty clear there were issues to begin with.
McDowell, and it hurts to type this, did more to keep AGS in check than any of his predecessors. Passed the Garda act, got GSOC off the ground, set up smithwick tribunal and the Garda inspectorate. Others have diluted and distorted his reforms and McDowell canât be accountable for that
McDowell put Gardai on the streets. He also put regulatory matters on statutory basis so they could not be fobbed off.
Arguable that an officer Corp is needed in the Gardai as the udarmans who rise through the rank and file have shown themselves to be unable to manage a modern police force
History will show McDowell to be one of the best people to ever grace the Dail. His gruff nature and lack of empathy for the common man always worked against him. He was also far too intelligent to be a TD.
I donât agree. He may have been capable but his ego and arrogance led him to think he was dictator. He announced policies on a whim and disregarded the advice of civil servants regularly.
âhold on ladsâ., I have the answer⌠CAFĂ BARS for all.
McDowell was able to be sleveen when it suited. The day a story was breaking about his pet Thornton Hall project being a disaster and millions wasted he announced in the dail about frank Connollyâs bird watching activities in Columbia. Of course the Eire media lapped it up and his bad news was buried.