I raise the issue of the five gardaí who were acquitted in Limerick Circuit Court this week. They all deserve apologies from the Garda Commissioner, and I sincerely hope this will happen. The Garda division of Limerick encompasses quite a large area of County Clare. I have spoken on this issue many times over the years. In my opinion, this was a witch hunt that was wasteful of the time of our Judiciary and of taxpayer's money. It cost an estimated €3.5 million. It took nine years to happen. You would have been tried for murder in less time than this trial took.

The investigation and subsequent trial destroyed the careers and reputation of the five gardaí involved. There is more to it, however, because a much wider net of more junior ranking gardaí had their personal phones and laptops confiscated as part of this investigation. They too have endured reputational damage and seen their careers stagnate and flounder under a veil of unwarranted suspicion. Any remaining trials must be struck out.

The apologies need to come from the Commissioner. Additionally, however, the principle of discretion needs to be made very clear to all gardaí. It is a central plank of the syllabus of Templemore training college. Thus, it must be a central plank of day to day policing in Ireland. We either allow it or we do not. Discretion must be central.

Can I just say-----

No, the Deputy cannot. His time is up.

-----that we see in other jurisdictions how brutal policing can be.

The Deputy's time is up.

We have a very proud history of policing by consent in Ireland.

Deputy Crowe is encroaching on everyone else's time. His time is up.

We must always protect our gardaí and stand with them.

I appreciate the very strong position that has been consistently articulated by Deputy Crowe in respect of this issue. It is fair to say that those gardaí have been acquitted by the courts. That is an issue on which we have to reflect. I will discuss the matter with the Minister for justice and the implications of that. It seems that a review of what transpired needs to happen because it impacted Garda morale more broadly and had a significant negative impact on the careers of the five gardaí and, as the Deputy stated, of others as well.

The principle of discretion is important. An Garda Síochána has served us well. There have to be checks and balances in every system. There has to be accountability. There has to be perspective in how all of these issues are dealt with. Given what transpired, one has to question whether the principle of perspective was applied here or not.