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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Jul 1992

Adjournment Debate. - Castlebar (Mayo) Garda Station Incident.

Deputy Shatter has given me notice of his intention to raise the matter of the circumstances resulting in two persons being held in a cell in Castlebar Garda station which contained firearms and ammunition; whether an inquiry is being conducted into this incident and if he would outline the steps, if any, being taken to ensure that such weapons and ammunition are not similarly stored in the future.

Thank you, Sir, for giving me to the opportunity to raise what appears on the face of it be a bizarre and extraordinary event. As is already widely known, the present Minister for Justice has been somewhat unfortunate in that apparently he was the victim of a burglary in his private residence prior to Christmas, which we were all sorry to hear. Indeed, one would have expected that the security on his home in Dublin would have prevented that happening. That was an unfortunate event but that misfortune apparently has been compounded by a degree of carelessness which is difficult to fathom.

There were widespread reports last week that two persons, allegedly arrested for being drunk and disorderly, were placed in the cells of the Garda station in Castlebar. Incredibly, the reports stated, it was subsequently discovered that within the cell in which the two people were placed were 20,000 rounds of ammunition, an Uzi submachine gun and five hand guns. Reportedly there was some commotion in the cell some time after the two allegedly inebriated gentlemen were placed in it which resulted in a garda in the station returning to the cell to find the two gentlemen somewhat the worse for wear and reportedly each waving a hand gun in the air. I am assuming that the hand guns had no ammunition in them. I am also assuming that the gentlemen concerned were so badly inebriated they did not know the nature of what they were doing, were not quite sure whether they were in a cell or playing a game of cowboys and indians down in Castlebar.

Events such as this occurring in the Minister's home town are a matter of some considerable embarrassment. But it is a matter of great concern — and I emphasise the word "concern"— that ammunition and guns could be stored in such a careless way that events could evolve which resulted in two persons being incarcerated in a cell in which it is alleged, guns and ammunition were stored. If the reports are true it is fortunate that the two people placed in the cell were not from a subversive organisation. We can thank God that was not the case. Had they been from a subversive organisation God only knows what could have been the consequences of the events which took place in Castlebar on that reported occasion.

It is my hope that the Minister will tell me this is all fiction invented by the news media and/or a grossly exaggerated event. It would be of some relief to learn that was the case. If that was the case, the silence of the Department of Justice last week, when these reports became public, is quite peculiar. It would seem to me that rather than this issue having to be raised in this House a statement should have been issued from the Minister's office last week detailing the exact nature of the events that occurred and giving assurances that necessary precautions would be put in place to ensure there is no repetition.

I am asking for those assurances. I am asking the Minister to detail to the House the exact events that occurred and what inquiry, if any, is being conducted into them. Perhaps the Minister will be in a position to indicate what has befallen the two inebriated gentlemen who, I understand from press reports, were eventually released and against whom no charges were brought. I am not suggesting that charges should be brought against them. I am merely saying that we were extraordinarily lucky that, in these series of events — which could have been well written in a Tom Sharpe novel — no serious injuries were sustained and no life lost. Indeed, we are lucky that the gardaí were not injured. We are equally lucky that the two gentlemen who found themselves locked up with so much ammunition did not injure themselves or each other, considering their alleged condition.

Bá mhaith liom leithscéal an Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus an Aire Stáit a ghabháil as ucht nach bhfuil sé ar a gcumas bheith anseo.

The matter raised in the House tonight by Deputy Shatter has been the subject of very serious allegations reported in the media. The nature of these allegations is that persons arrested on the morning of 28 May, 1992, were placed and held in a cell in Castlebar Garda station which contained firearms and ammunition. These allegations are of a very serious nature. I have no wish to downplay that in any way. At the same time, it is important to bear in mind that we are speaking of allegations, no more than that at this point.

The Garda authorities have ordered a full investigation into what happened in Castlebar station on the morning of 28 May. I can assure the House that the investigation, which is being conducted by a senior officer from outside the Mayo Garda Division, is already well under way and will be completed with all possible speed. This officer will inquire into the circumstances of all detentions at Castlebar Garda station on the night in question and endeavour to establish whether there is substance to the allegations reported in the media. He will review the procedures relating to the storage of firearms and consider whether these procedures were implemented on the morning in question.

Pending completion of this officer's investigation it would not be appropriate to comment further on this matter other than to inform the House that, should recommendations for safer storage of firearms emerge from the review — and in saying that I am not to be taken as in any way prejudging anything or implying an absence of safety on the morning in question — these recommendations will be given effect by the Garda authorities. I repeat that the investigation is at present under way. It is hoped that it will be completed with all possible speed when we will be in a position to report further.

Six weeks have expired since the reported incident. It is bizarre that the Minister cannot tell the House exactly what happened.

Please, Deputy Shatter, desist. We must continue to the next matter.

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