THE GARDA COMMISSIONER has this evening issued a specific plea to victims of sexual crime not to be deterred from reporting offences to gardai.

Commissioner Martin Callinan took the unusual step of releasing a statement to emphasise that official Garda policy in the handling of sexual crime cases is to combine “professionalism with sensitivity and compassion”.

The statement comes after 24 hours of outrage after unidentified gardai were accidentally recorded on a video camera, apparently joking about threatening to rape a woman who they had arrested on public order offences. The recording was made after a protest by members of the Rossport Solidarity Camp over the Corrib gas pipeline. The Garda Ombudsman has launched an investigation into the incident.

Commissioner Callinan’s statement this evening said that the force’s priority in the investigation of sexual crime is to meet the needs of victims. He said that the organisation expected gardai to follow “clear policy”. He said:

We have stated clearly in the past and I want to say again this evening that a positive and compassionate attitude from members of An Garda Siochana is vital.

Stressing the resources pumped by the State into Garda investigation of sexual crime, he mentioned a crime training faculty “to train senior investigation officers”, the appointment of specialist interviewers and creation of dedicated interview suites for child victims.

The Rape Crisis Network of Ireland’s Executive Director Fiona Neary said today that the contents of the tape were “very serious”. She said:

It is critical that someone speaking to the gardai about rape feels confident that they will be treated with dignity and respect and that the crimes against them will be treated in a serious manner. The public, and victims of sexual violence, must be able to trust the gardai.

Commissioner Callinan’s statement this evening asked victims not to be put off reporting sexual crimes because of today’s controversy:

I want the message to go out to the community and particularly to victims of sexual crime that they should report those crimes to gardai who can take the necessary steps to vindicate and protect their rights and I want to assure them that they will be met with compassion and sensitivity.