The High Court has ruled that the Audit Report into the grant of firearms users’ licences “be handed straight over to the Commissioner of Police and to the Police Service Commission” for further investigation.”
Former Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith had challenged the National Security Council’s decision to commission the report which included a period when he was Commissioner of Police. Mr. Griffith had also alleged that his right to natural justice was breached in the preparation of the report.
Both allegations were rejected by the high court today and the court ruled that the National Security Council “was quite entitled under section 75 of the Constitution to take the steps” that it did. In rejecting Mr. Griffith’s claim of breach of natural justice, the court said Mr. Griffith’s assertion of any right to be heard is premature.
The court also rejected an allegation that the Prime Minister had acted in bad faith in relation to the Audit Report.