GSOC is investigating 12 police officers for sexual crimes

Twelve Gardaí have been suspended while under investigation for suspected sexual assault or sexual misconduct.

This is according to new data provided by the Garda Freedom of Information Unit, which shows An Garda Síochána, or GSOC, is investigating an additional eight members in relation to domestic violence/coercive control.

As of Monday, 91 members were suspended. This includes two members suspended for five to six years and nine others suspended for four to five years.

Garda Representative Association (GRA) president Mark O’Meara said: “While we cannot comment on any ongoing individual cases, we strongly believe that the current policy on suspensions is simply insufficiently transparent and that key rights and entitlements of members are being infringed upon during serving suspension.” , namely the excessive length of the suspension period and the reasons and justification for the suspension and extension of the suspension.

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

“However, these processes must be carried out in a fair, transparent and timely manner to ensure members are treated the same as any other member of society, rather than being left in limbo for years with little or no progress.”

A further 20 officers were suspended for three to four years and 24 for two to three years; 21 were suspended for a period of one to two years and the remaining 15 for a period of up to one year.

When asked for comment, a Garda spokesman said the number of suspended officers represented just over 0.5 per cent of the total force.

He said the number of suspended gardaí at any given time “may fluctuate – a person previously suspended may no longer be suspended or a suspended person may choose to resign or be relieved of his or her duties as a garda”.

He said: “Fourteen suspensions were lifted or terminated in 2024. It is Garda policy that all suspensions are reviewed on a quarterly basis.”

Mr O’Meara added: “At a time when our organisation is facing chronic funding shortages and staffing reductions, we are calling for these procedures to be expedited so that our members have the earliest opportunity to defend themselves and benefit from due process.”

He added: “We recently had a case where a member was suspended for over three years over a rental bike before he was fully cleared of the wrongdoing. It exposed flaws in a system where many members were suspended years before their case was heard.”

In addition to the police officers suspended for sexual assault/sexual offenses and domestic violence/coercion, 14 members of the force who are under investigation for alleged theft, forgery, fraud or dishonesty have also been suspended, and 12 for driving under the influence of drugs.

A further nine people are being investigated for disclosure/data protection/misuse of Pulse; nine for alleged interference with a fixed charge notice; eight for corruption/criminal association; five for assault/assault causing harm; and five for drugs or drug-related offences.

The remaining nine are being investigated as “others.”