Off-duty gardaí under investigation after alleged street fight

Three Dublin-based gardaí are under investigation after claims they were involved in a street fight with two men after trying to solicit prostitutes during a night out in Limerick.

The alleged incident took place this month when a large group of off-duty officers were socialising in a city centre pub.

Two men aged 19 and 20 made complaints to gardaí following the incident which is alleged to have occurred in the Catherine Street area of Limerick at around 10pm on the night of Thursday, December 5th last.

It is understood two of the off-duty gardaí left the pub where the larger group was socialising as part of a pre-Christmas outing, and tried to gain access to a building on Cecil Street where a brothel was previously known to be operating.

One of the new tenants of the building, who was unaware of the activities of the previous occupants, answered the door, and a stand-off ensued and the off-duty officers left.

A short time later the man left his home with another man and they met the same off-duty gardaí, who were accompanied by another colleague. A row ensued which resulted in a street fight and gardaí were called to the scene. Nobody was arrested but names were taken.

Statements
The alleged injured parties went to Henry Street Garda station the following day with their solicitors and made statements in which they claimed they suffered a number of injuries in the row.

Both men received medical attention at University Hospital Limerick for injuries which included a bruised cheek and eye.

The three off-duty gardaí are uniformed officers aged in their 20s and based at two stations in Dublin.

They have five to 10 years service between them.

The Garda Ombudsman was notified about the incident and Supt Alan Cunningham of Bruff Garda station in Co Limerick was appointed to head up the investigation.

The area where the alleged street row occurred is covered by CCTV cameras and investigating gardaí will examine relevant footage as part of the investigation.

The investigation, which was described as “ongoing”, is expected to take a number of weeks and statements will be taken from all witnesses.