The Garda dismissed scalding criticism over its supposed inability to apologize for misconduct. Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy asserted the force have said sorry on several occasions when it had made mistakes.

An official watchdog assemble to probe public grievances against the gardai said there was an institutional culture of indifference to misconduct.

Mr Conroy took unusual step of issuing a lengthy statement via press office to reject several of Garda Complaints Board’s accusations.

The statement said, “In many instances, individuals or organization, have apologized for wrong-doings, however, in each case, the Garda Síochána, as with all other agencies, are guided by their legal advisors.

“Where actions by members of An Garda Síochána are genuinely bona fide mistakes the Gardai have no problem in apologising, provided such an apology does not in any way affect any future legal proceedings.”

The commissioner responded to board’s claims that he fails to act over minor indiscipline with a stern reminder that it is he who has the power, under law, to decide if an officer is in the wrong.

Press office statement said, “This is not a determination by the board and it falls to the commissioner to cause further enquiries to be carried out to finally determine whether or not a breach of discipline occurred.”

Mr Conroy said of 63 cases referred to him last year he took disciplinary action in 35, just over half, while eight cases remained unresolved into this year.

The statement said, “In the remaining 20 cases, the commissioner’s decision following full review was that no disciplinary breach was disclosed and no disciplinary action was warranted or could be supported.”

The Garda Complaints Board had said that where the commissioner takes no action he is effectively saying that the independent watchdog got it wrong.

Mr Conroy said he and his senior colleagues would give “due consideration” to several areas of concern raised by the Garda watchdog in its annual report for last year.

“In 2006, members of An Garda Síochána had in excess of 1 million interactions with members of the public, with less than 0.1% resulting in admissible complaints. This compares to approximately 700,000 interactions in 2005, which resulted in approximately the same percentage.”

He also warded off criticism at the low level of engagement among officers accused of wrongdoing in the informal resolution process set up for certain complaints.

Mr Conroy insisted that under the law officers have a right to opt for or refuse to take part in the process as they see fit.