A total of 282 cases of alleged Garda misconduct are being examined by a panel established by the Government, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has said.

“It is a significant number of cases and higher than originally estimated, but I think it was important to refer to the panel all of the allegations on hand with very minimal filtering to ensure that every appropriate case got the benefit of an independent review,’’ she added.

Ms Fitzgerald told the Dáil today that the independent review mechanism was established to look at allegations of misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action might be taken.

A panel was set up, as a result of the Guerin report, comprising two senior and five junior counsel who were selected on the basis of their experience of the criminal justice system, she added.

She told Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins that the review of each allegation consisted of an examination of the papers by a counsel from the panel and did not involve interviews or interactions with the complainants or any other form of investigation.

Counsel could, however, recommend that she seek further information to assist in coming to an appropriate recommendation in a particular case.

“I think it is important to be realistic and acknowledge that in some cases, perhaps a majority, that there might be a decision that no further action is recommended, ‘’ she added.

“However, that might be a case where all court efforts have been exhausted or there has been a full examination by relevant bodies.’’