Almost 50 gardai are on suspension for over a year.
And in total, there are 87 serving gardai currently on suspension, with three of these suspended for five years or more, according to figures from the Department of Justice.
The suspension details come after the Irish Mirror reported last month about the offences suspended gardai have been caught for.
The Garda response on that occasion listed the breakdown of reasons for suspension in 2021 as “social media, theft, sexual, drugs, drink driving, assault, pervert justice, domestic violence and access Garda systems.”
The latest suspension figures show there were 39 gardai suspended for less than a year, 32 for between one and two years, nine for between two and three years, four for between three and four years and 3 for between five and eight years.
The issue of criminal activity in police forces is the subject of one of the most popular, true ‘watercooler’ TV programmes of recent years.
BBC’s Line of Duty has had sky-high ratings in Britain for its six series so far, with Irish viewers tuning in in huge numbers too.
Its main star is Irishman, Adrian Dunbar, who is the head of an anti-corruption unit in the British police, called AC-12.
Mr Dunbar’s character, Supt Ted Hastings, makes it his mission every series to go after what he calls “bent coppers.”
The latest Garda suspension figures seen by the Mirror were obtained by Social Democrats co-leader, Catherine Murphy, through a Parliamentary Question response.
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, told Ms Murphy in her response: “I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no maximum duration that a member of An Garda Síochána can be suspended for, as each case is different and has to be decided on its merits. “Each suspension is reviewed on a regular basis for any changes in circumstances.
“Some members are before the courts and are awaiting dates for trials and therefore discipline investigations have to be put into abeyance, pending conclusion of the criminal proceedings. “In other cases discipline investigations are ongoing or the case may be subject to a hearing before a Board of Inquiry or Appeal Board, which all impact on suspensions.
“I am advised that in all cases where a member of An Garda Síochána is suspended, they are informed of the reason(s) for the suspension.
“The suspended member is informed of the availability of the Garda Employee Assistance Service and given contact details by a Liaison Officer.
“Upon suspension, the member is served with a notice which sets out the conditions attached to the suspension and the entitlements or otherwise of the suspended member.”
