Top Garda suspended over alleged pub incident as GSOC recommends criminal charges
Exclusive - The officer has been under GSOC investigation for 14 months – but was not suspended, nor was he ever arrested. But Garda Commissioner Drew Harris ordered his suspension when it emerged that GSOC had recommended he face criminal charges ov
A top Garda has been suspended after independent investigators asked for him to be prosecuted over an incident at a Dublin pub, it has emerged. The Irish Mirror has confirmed that the senior officer received notification of his suspension on Christmas Eve.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris ordered the officer’s suspension after it emerged that policing watchdog GSOC had sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions over the alleged incident in a central Dublin pub in late August 2023.
Sources say the DPP has made no decision on the case yet – but revealed that GSOC recommended the senior officer be hit with a number of charges. The officer strongly denies any wrongdoing.
He is alleged to have racially abused a male bouncer at the pub at the culmination the incident - an allegation he denies. He is further alleged to have knocked a phone out of a female boss’ hand. He also denies that allegation.
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The officer has been under GSOC investigation for 14 months – but was not suspended, nor was he ever arrested. But Mr Harris ordered his suspension when it emerged that GSOC had recommended he face criminal charges over the incident.
Sources say it is likely the DPP will make a final decision on any charges the officer may face in the coming weeks. Sources say the charges being considered are at the lower end of the scale and are public order related.
The Garda Press confirmed to The Irish Mirror on Friday that a senior officer had been suspended. A spokesman told us: “An alleged incident involving an off-duty Garda in Dublin city centre, was referred to GSOC under Section 85 of the Garda Síochána Act. The garda in question was suspended from duty in recent weeks.”
Sources say the investigation relates to a complaint made to GSOC over the incident outside a north inner city centre on August 26, 2023. The incident began when the officer and two civilian friends were asked to leave the pub at 10pm over a minor issue.
The trio left, but the senior officer stopped at the entrance to ask to speak to a manager. That request was refused and as the officer was leaving, a bouncer became involved and laid hands on him, sources say.
It is alleged following the intervention of the bouncer, the senior officer responded with an alleged racial comment, which sources say he strongly denies.
It is further alleged that a female manager then intervened and the senior officer knocked a phone out of her hand. He denies that.
Both parties contacted gardai, who visited the scene. Details were taken but nobody was arrested.
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