The garda at the centre of a row over the erection of a mobile phone mast on Achill island has been exonerated by his superiors. Garda Peadar Howley won his appeal against a disciplinary ruling at a special hearing in Dublin last week.
Achill islanders have welcomed the decision, which comes 19 months after the initial row erupted over Esat Digifone's plans to erect a 40-foot mast at Keel Garda station where Garda Howley is based. He was "temporarily redeployed" to Westport at short notice when he queried the legality of the location of the mast and base station. As part of an upgrading of the Garda Siochana communications system, the force had made an agreement with Esat Digifone to locate mobile phone masts at stations throughout the State.
Garda Howley's wife had not been well and the family were concerned about the health implications.
Angered at the transfer, islanders chained themselves to part of the proposed mast and insisted that the garda be reinstated and that alleged breaches of planning regulations be investigated.
On June 9th, 1998, up to 100 gardai were sent to Keel to ensure there would be no disruption of work on the mast. A clash occurred between gardai and protesters, and charges were brought against five people on the day.
Last July, Garda Howley appeared before an internal Garda inquiry at Westport station. He was found guilty of "misconduct" and "oppressive behaviour" towards another garda and was cautioned on this charge. A second charge of abusive language during a telephone conversation with another garda was not pursued, while a third charge of discreditable conduct by preventing the erection of an Esat mast at Keel was dismissed.
The appeals board, chaired by Mr Frank Ward, solicitor, reversed the inquiry's decision, which had resulted in Garda Howley being issued with a caution.
