Fitzgerald criticised for no-show at Garda conference

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has been criticised for failing to attend the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), the Irish Independent reports.

Antoinette Cunningham, president of the Association, told conference delegates: “It is no wonder that we feel abandoned by Government.”

Ms Cunningham told the conference that Ms Fitzgerald had indicated that she was too busy to attend “for one hour over the next three days”.

According to Ms Cunningham, Ms Fitzgerald also declined to offer a representative from the Department of Justice in her place.

The snub comes as Ms Fitzgerald is embroiled in major scandal over Irish policing, which has led to the establishment of the new Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.