Garda Chiefs Slammed Over Suspension Of Midlands Garda Who Gave Pensioner Bicycle

Wednesday, 6 March 2024 06:43

A Westmeath garda was suspended for three years and his home was raided.

Garda chiefs are being blasted for 'using a sledgehammer to crack a nut' over the suspension of a Midlands Garda who gave a pensioner a bicycle during Covid.

The Westmeath Garda was suspended for three years, after his home was raided as part of an investigation by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

It's understood the problem arose in 2020, because the Garda failed to fill out a form after taking the bike from a Garda storeroom.

A disciplinary panel's recommended the highly respected midlands' Garda should be completely cleared.

The decision's been welcomed by the Garda Representative Association - but they say 'good, decent community policing was blown apart by the case'.

The Garda was suspended as part of an investigation which saw his home raided, and the bike taken back from the pensioner.

He was finally re-instated last August but still faced a disciplinary hearing when he returned to work.

The GRA's raised the case with the Justice Minister overnight, saying the 'suspend first - ask questions later' approach, highlights a serious disconnect between management and the frontline.