Patrick Costello
Ceist:297. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of individuals dismissed from An Garda Síochána owing to court sentences received by them, over the past ten years. [27819/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 2 July 2024
Ceisteanna (297)
Freagraí scríofa
The vast majority of members of An Garda Síochána uphold the values of the organisation and serve the State with integrity each and every day.
Of course, for the public to have absolute confidence in An Garda Síochána, they must have faith that when the law is broken by the people entrusted with upholding it, the same laws and processes will be applied without fear or favour to those who wear a uniform as anyone who doesn’t.
As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Commissioner is responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including disciplinary procedures and all Garda investigations. I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána’s Internal Affairs Section manages internal discipline cases which can result from a conviction in court from prosecutions taken by the DPP on behalf of An Garda Síochána or GSOC. The outcome of proceedings in each case are reported to a senior level within An Garda Síochána.
Dependent on the nature of the conviction recorded against a Garda member, the Commissioner may pursue the dismissal or the dispensing of a Garda's services under the following legislation/ statutory instruments:
• Section 14, Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended (Sworn members)
• Regulation 39 of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, as amended (Sworn members)
• Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) Regulations 2024 (Reserve Garda Members)
• Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 (Probationer Garda)
A Garda should be suspended prior to appearing in court in respect of criminal charges that could result in a custodial sentence being imposed. I am informed by the Garda authorities that from 1 January 2013 until 26 June 2024, court outcomes were recorded against 42 members on suspension. This includes convictions and findings of guilt in which the Probation Act was applied.
Over the course of 11 and a half years, of those 42 members, 14 were dismissed, 20 resigned, 6 retired, 1 was medically discharged, and 1 was subject to compulsory retirement. Resignations, retirements and medical discharges occurred either in advance of the date of conviction or shortly after the conviction, which can impact on the conclusion of a potential dismissal.