Garda management is conducting a review to determine if gardaí are failing to disclose if they are subject to domestic violence orders.
Under internal rules gardaí are required to inform their superiors if they have been made the subject of barring or safety orders by the courts. It emerged last year that at least 21 gardaí had been subject to domestic violence orders since 2019.
The manner in which domestic violence orders are recorded on the Garda Pulse computer system makes it almost impossible to determine the occupation of the suspect, including if they are members of the force. This means management must rely on individual gardaí to come forward.
Speaking at a Policing Authority meeting in Co Monaghan on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon said a review was ongoing into whether gardaí had failed to make proper disclosures regarding domestic violence. She said when it is established that an officer has failed to disclose a domestic violence order, they face disciplinary procedures.
She said cases where gardaí are accused of domestic violence are referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) which may decide to retain the case or refer it back to gardaí for investigation. She said that when this happens gardaí from outside the suspect’s area are assigned to investigate.
She said it is sometimes the case that victims of Garda domestic violence are gardaí themselves. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris recently sent out a message to all members promising them support in such circumstances and encouraging them to come forward.
The meeting also heard that the Garda is considering providing replacement mobile phones to domestic violence victims while their phones are being examined for evidence. This is part of efforts to reduce the number of domestic violence cases which have to be abandoned when victims decide not to go through with making a statement or appearing in court.
The meeting heard domestic violence victims can face significant logistical difficulties when they have to surrender their mobile phones to gardaí as evidence.
Mr Harris said this is an “impediment” and that the issue was being examined. He said the best way to proceed was to issue a replacement phone to victims. Other police forces take a “digital snapshot” of a phone’s contents before returning the device to victims but Mr Harris said this would not work in this jurisdiction.
The commissioner said he was preparing proposals for the Department of Justice on how to address the “attrition rate” in domestic violence cases.
Policing Authority chairman Bob Collins used the meeting to pay tribute to Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll in advance of his retirement next month. Mr O’Driscoll has played a leading role in efforts to dismantle the Kinahan organised crime group and in bringing international pressure on the gang’s leadership in the form of sanctions and travel bans.
“He has been an extraordinary boon to An Garda Síochána. I think the Irish population has benefited enormously from his diligence and capacity,” Mr Collins said.
