Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Ahmet 3A

Garda used internal Pulse computer system to snoop on new girlfriend

The abuse of the Garda information system was one case outlined in the Gsoc review of 2016 complaints.

A GARDA WHO went snooping for personal details on a new girlfriend on the Garda Pulse computer system received one of 75 sanctions imposed on gardai by the Garda authorities last year.

In the case, the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) investigated the woman’s claims that her ex-partner had accessed her personal details through Pulse.

According to the Gsoc Annual Report for 2016 and in the case, the woman told Gsoc that the garda had told her he had looked her up on the system when they had first started dating. An examination of the Pulse system showed that the garda had accessed the woman’s details.

Gsoc carried on a non-criminal investigation into the claim and the garda involved was interviewed and admitted accessing his former partner’s details and that it was not in an official capacity.

According to Gsoc, the garda concerned was found to be in breach of discipline and sanctioned.

In another case, two gardaí were sanctioned by their superiors for the manner in which they investigated allegations that a teenager had been sexually assaulted by an adult neighbour.

In the case, the teen’s parents complained to Gsoc that the Garda investigation was unnecessarily delayed, resulting in loss of evidence, and that vital witnesses were not interviewed.

A Garda superintendent investigated the parents’ complaints and was supervised by a Gsoc officer.

The superintendent’s recommendations were endorsed by Gsoc and two of the six gardaí investigated were found to be in breach of the Garda (Discipline) Regulations 2007 and were sanctioned.

Of the 75 sanctions imposed on gardai, the total included:

  • 22 fines
  • 30 instances of ‘advice’ issued
  • 11 cautions issued
  • 9 warnings
  • 3 reprimands.

The report confirms that Gsoc referred a further 13 cases to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to decide if a prosecution should take place or not.

In total last year, Gsoc finalised 1,706 complaints involving 3,839 allegations. However, in respect of 1,850 allegations, the cases were discontinued where further investigation was not necessary or reasonably practicable.

In respect of a further 524 allegations, no breach of discipline was identified while the allegations were withdrawn in relation to a further 154 allegations while no misbehaviour in the criminal investigation by Gsoc of 33 allegations was identified.

In 2016, Gsoc received 1,758 complaints containing 3,768 allegations – a 12% decrease on the numbers of complaints received in 2015.

The types of allegations were similar to previous years, with about one-third related to abuse of authority and one-third to neglect of duty.

In the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), the West and South Central Divisions had the highest numbers of allegations, while outside the DMR, Galway and Cork City were the Garda Divisions with the highest numbers of allegations.

The report states: “It is important to note that it follows that there is likely to be a higher number of complaints from larger, or busier, Divisions.”

At the start of 2016, Gsoc had four Protected Disclosure (PD) cases on hand and over the course of the year received an additional seven PDs.

The report states: “We expect this trend to continue into 2017. To this end, the Ombudsman Commission engaged with the Minister for Justice during the year about the need to commit additional resources to this important function, in order to deliver on it more effectively.”

View 75 comments
Close
75 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Hickey
    Favourite Shane Hickey
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 11:59 AM

    It’s not much of a hunt if they haven’t named him

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ChuckE
    Favourite ChuckE
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 12:12 PM

    @Shane Hickey: I’m sure they have a name but it’s probably best to keep it out of the media

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane O Mahony
    Favourite Shane O Mahony
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 1:19 PM

    @Shane Hickey: according to local news over here the police have interviewed the Irish man who was the murdered woman’s x and he has been released without charge and they are now looking for a British man.

    13
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane O Mahony
    Favourite Shane O Mahony
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 1:27 PM
    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Cormican
    Favourite Shane Cormican
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 1:34 PM

    @Shane O Mahony: its always the Brits fault and we get blamed!

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 8:32 PM

    @Shane O Mahony: it’s really bad when I’m not sure which source has the wrong nationality for the deceased, yours or the journal!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Misanthrope
    Favourite Misanthrope
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 1:15 PM

    Where’s Veronica?

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 1:31 PM

    @Misanthrope: Wasn’t she hoping to get on a Ryanair flight? Probably still stuck in an airport, keeping a wary eye out for murderers fleeing the country.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eastsmer
    Favourite eastsmer
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 2:11 PM

    A 999 call ? – surely a 112 call

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Dec 18th 2017, 8:32 PM

    @eastsmer: in Spain?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Dec 19th 2017, 1:04 AM

    Only 46, and to have had only a couple of years there. RIP.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds