Investigators in the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation have cleared a garda who gave an elderly man in a rural area an unclaimed bicycle during the Covid-19 lockdown of any wrongdoing. The garda had failed to fill out the necessary paperwork for the bicycle.
The long-serving member of the force was suspended by the Garda Commissioner for three years while the case was investigated and a disciplinary hearing was completed.
In June 2020, detectives took the bicycle back from the elderly man and searched the garda’s home. He was then suspended from duty, but was reinstated in August 2023 after the investigation found he had no criminal case to answer.
At that point, however, disciplinary proceedings were instigated, and the garda was confined to “restricted duties”, which meant he was not allowed to deal with the public.
A four-day hearing before a disciplinary board concluded two weeks ago and the board rejected all five disciplinary charges the garda had faced: namely discreditable conduct, disobedience, misuse of property and neglect of duty.
The Garda Representative Association told RTÉ that they welcomed the outcome “but said it was part of a ‘suspend first, ask questions later’ approach to discipline”.
GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said: “This was a case where good, decent community policing which is at the very heart of why we are trusted by the people we serve was blown apart and relationships destroyed.
“In essence I believe a sledgehammer of discipline was used to crack a nut and the reputation of a long serving member was damaged, his honesty questioned and his livelihood threatened.
“Unfortunately this once again shows the disconnect between management and those on the frontline and a lack of common sense and proportionality when investigating community facing policing issues.
“This has been systemic in An Garda Síochána of late with a policy of ‘suspend first, ask questions later’ approach which has been instigated and overseen by garda management and supported by the commissioner.
“We will be raising this case and the processes involved when we meet with the Minister for Justice at her offices later today.”
The President of the association, Brendan O’ Connor what was happened was indicative of the atmosphere and culture in the force that was “driving people out”.