Gardai under investigation over complaints from the public are having their careers stalled for up to 18 months – and losing thousands of euro in the process.
The annual conference of the Garda Representative Association, held in Westport, Co Mayo, heard this week that officers being investigated by watchdog GSOC are not allowed to go for promotion or transfer to specialist units while they are at the centre of the probe.
And delegates for the 12,000-strong body – that represents rank and file gardai – heard the investigation process can last for as long as 18 months.
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One delegate told how the rule from Garda bosses meant officers were losing tens of thousands of euro.
They said: “In many cases, members are on promotions lists or are getting set to move to specialist units when the complaints are received.
“But once the complaint comes in, that stops and they do not get the move until the investigation is completed.
“That could be 18 months. It means members are losing a serious amount of money in the shape of pay or allowances.”
Detective Garda Graham O’Neill, from Kilmainham station in south central Dublin, told the conference two of his colleagues had to wait that length of time before being cleared.
He said: “In my own station two members were accused of a very serious assault. This complaint was vexatious, but it took almost 18 months to vindicate them. These members would have been prevented from progressing in their careers by way of promotion or lateral movement with that complaint hanging over them.
“As it is there seems to be a presumption of guilt towards gardai who are subjected to a complaint.
“This is just one example of what is happening all over the country.”
The conference heard calls for Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to end the practice of not allowing gardai to move to new units or be promoted if GSOC is investigating them.
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