New Garda Oversight Body ‘Fiosrú’ Raises Eyebrows Over Accountability Gaps

Ireland’s new policing watchdog, Fiosrú – the Office of the Police Ombudsman, has officially replaced the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), promising stronger oversight of Garda conduct. But critics argue the reform has failed to deliver on its most crucial promise: independence.

While the government claims the change will lead to “a more modern, transparent, and effective” complaints process, civil liberties groups say Fiosrú lacks the teeth it needs to truly hold Gardaí accountable.

> “This reform falls short of what the Commission on the Future of Policing recommended. Fiosrú is still too closely tied to the structures it’s meant to monitor,” said a spokesperson from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

Key concerns include:

No guaranteed public access to reports involving national security cases.

Lack of prosecutorial powers to hold Gardaí criminally accountable without DPP involvement.

Limited independence in funding and staffing, raising fears of government influence.

The Department of Justice insists it’s “just the first step,” but for many victims of police misconduct, the reform feels more like a reshuffle than a reset.

As calls grow for a genuinely independent watchdog, the question remains: Can a state body ever truly investigate the state?