The damning report that led to the resignation of Alan Shatter also says the former Minister did not heed the voice of the whistleblower Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
A Commission of Investigation is recommended in the 336 page report which is highly critical of the then Minister for Justice, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission.
This report says both the Justice Minister at the time and the Garda force itself did not take heed to the voice of the whistleblower Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe – despite him being held in high regard by other Gardai and his superiors.
Senior Counsel Seán Guerin found concern as to the adequacy of the investigations at the centre of the complaints – which included the murder of Sylvia Roche Kelly by a man out on bail.
He says changes in Garda practices are required in the taking of statements when complaints are withdrawn, that the force needs to review if the PULSE system is effective in dealing with compliance with bail, and that the operation of the station bail system needs review.
On Alan Shatter's role as Minister he criticises that options available were not taken, including that in 2012 when he got the confidential recipient's report, the only thing he did was seek a response from the commissioner.
And he goes on to say that it's surprising Alan Shatter appeared to have been satisfied with a brief summary of the conclusions of the Garda investigation into the McCabe claims.
The report is also critical of officials for not bringing matters to the attention of the Minister – saying he can find no detailed assessment within the department of any of the allegations made by Sgt McCabe or the responses from the Commissioner.
The report says the way Sergeant McCabe has been treated since making his complaints needs to be examined.
Reacting to the report The Justice Minister Francis Fitzgerald says root and branch reform must happen in the wake of the report and a new cabinet committee on Justice Reform has been established.
