Garda Headquarters has strongly defended its policy, and that of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, of suspending members of the force when allegations are made against them. It dismissed as “hyperbole” some recent comments by staff associations on suspension practices.
The comments come a week after a Garda member was awarded €28,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for the manner he was suspended for two years while a complaint against him was investigated.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) have been strongly critical of the number of suspensions and how long some have continued. They have also complained that fear of being investigated and suspended has resulted in many frontline gardaí being reluctant to use force while on duty.
At the end of last year, the GRA wrote to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to outline its concerns about new disciplinary and conduct regulations for the Garda. Association president Ronan Slevin said how the commissioner had managed discipline, specifically decisions to dismiss some gardaí, was marked by “excessive harshness”.
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AGSI general secretary Ronan Clogher said at his association’s annual delegate conference last year that he had sought a review of the Garda suspension policy to have “an independent oversight mechanism” put in place.
“This was sought on the grounds of instances where Garda members endured protracted suspension periods while investigations carried on for months or years in some cases. This remains our position today.”
But Garda headquarters has now pushed back firmly against suggestions the internal disciplinary process, including suspensions, was excessive. It said suspensions rarely occurred but were a necessary measure in some cases, while noting the number of suspensions at the end of 2024 was the lowest for three years, at 93.
“Contrary to some recent commentary, when looked at on a factual basis rather than on hyperbole comment, this can hardly be considered as a significant level of suspensions,” said Garda HQ.
It added the allegations made against gardaí on suspension include “assault causing harm, domestic violence/coercive control, driving under the influence and sexual assault or sexual misconduct ... Is An Garda Síochána as the State body charged with maintaining law and order supposed to ignore such serious incidents when allegedly undertaken by Gardaí?”
On the claim some gardaí were reluctant to use force for fear of being suspended if a complaint was made by a member of the public, the force said the commissioner “has stated on many, many occasions publicly that he fully supports gardaí using force appropriately to protect the public and themselves”.
It added that the commissioner had also repeatedly said the “vast majority of gardaí act in a highly disciplined and ethical manner”. However, there were times when to “maintain public trust, it is necessary to suspend gardaí subject to disciplinary investigations”.
The number of Garda members suspended from the force — some 93 of a 14,220-strong organisation — represented significantly less than 1 per cent of the membership. Last year the number of suspensions that were lifted or ended reached 34, almost double the 18 new suspensions imposed.
GRA president, Mark O’Meara, told The Irish Times that the decline in the number of Garda members suspended “totally vindicates” his association’s view that “too many of our members were left languishing on suspension without due process”.
The GRA believed there was a “hardline ‘suspend first, ask questions later’ policy” relating to discipline in the Garda.
“This process needs a complete overhaul and the right of a member to defend their name in a timely and fair manner must be expedited,” he added.
The WRC case concerning the serving Garda member also noted that distress had been caused to him due to being suspended for two years. The officer, not named, was investigated after a teenager whom he and a colleague arrested made a complaint. Though the officer was eventually cleared of wrongdoing, in a use-of-force investigation, that outcome was reached only after a protracted suspension. The Garda member was not permitted to offer his version of events while the continued extension of his suspension was deemed a rubber-stamp exercise.
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