GSOC investigates 12 Gardaí for sexual offences

Twelve Gardaí are currently suspended pending investigation into alleged sexual assault or sexual misconduct.

This comes according to new figures from the Garda Freedom of Information Unit which reveal that a further eight members of An Garda Síochána (GSOC) are being investigated for domestic violence/coercive control.

Since Monday, 91 members have been suspended. Two members have been suspended for five to six years, and nine others for four to five years.

Mark O’Meara, President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), said: “While we cannot comment on ongoing individual cases, we firmly believe that the current suspension policy is simply not transparent enough and that essential rights and entitlements of members are breached during suspension, namely the excessive length of suspension and the reasons and justifications for suspension and extended suspension.”

He said: “We believe in the need for oversight and accept the need for disciplinary procedures.”

“However, these procedures must be completed fairly, transparently and in a timely manner to ensure that members are treated the same as all other citizens and do not remain suspended for years with little or no progress made.”

A further 20 Gardaí were suspended for three to four years, 24 for two to three years; 21 were suspended for between one and two years and the remaining 15 for up to one year.

Asked to comment on the figures, a Garda spokesman pointed out that the number of suspended officers represents just over 0.5 percent of the total force.

He said the number of suspended gardaí could “fluctuate at any time – a previously suspended person could no longer be suspended, or a suspended person could decide to resign or be relieved of their duties as a gardaí”.

He said: “In 2024, fourteen suspensions were lifted or otherwise terminated. It is Garda policy that each suspension is regularly reviewed on a quarterly basis.”

Mr O’Meara added: “At a time when our organisation is suffering from chronic underfunding and staff shortages, we are calling for these proceedings to be expedited so that our members have an early opportunity to defend themselves and receive a fair trial.”

He added: “We recently had a case where a member was suspended for over three years for borrowing a bike before being fully exonerated. This exposed the flaws in the system: many members were suspended for many years before their case was reviewed.”

In addition to the Gardaí suspended for alleged sexual harassment/sexual misconduct and domestic violence/coercive control, there are 14 suspended members under investigation for alleged theft, forgery, fraud or dishonesty and 12 for driving while under the influence of intoxicants.

A further nine people are being investigated for disclosure of information/privacy/abuse of Pulse, nine for alleged manipulation of fixed price notices, eight for corruption/criminal association, five for assault/bodily harm causing property damage and five for drugs or drug-related violations.

The remaining nine are being investigated for ‘other’ reasons.