Minister: Garda bike probe took too long

Mcentee vows a better system will be in place

JUSTICE Minister Helen Mcentee said a probe into a garda who was suspended for giving a pensioner a bike during the pandemic took too long.

But the Fine Gael deputy said the “system” and “structure” was followed after she was grilled about why it took nearly four years to completely exonerate the officer.

She said: “We know that any cases can take longer than anybody would like… this particular case certainly did take longer than anybody would like.”

Ms Mcentee also declared a “more efficient” system would be in place to investigate gardai accused of wrongdoing.

She continued: “We have a new policing bill that’s just been enacted.

“As part of that you

BILL Helen Mcentee have disciplinary and conduct regulations which I hope will be in place and which will be agreed in the coming weeks.

“What’s most important to me is that you have a system that’s efficient and that’s effective and that where somebody is cleared, that can be done as quickly as possible.

“But there is a process. You have to allow that to take its course so I’m not going to comment on any individual case.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said yesterday all the information about the case wasn’t in the public domain but stressed no further action would be taken against the officer.

He told the Committee of Public Accounts that he has a report and transcript of the disciplinary committee but he said he hasn’t studied them.

He said: “We only received yesterday the report from the panel chair and that’s an important piece of information. I am reluctant to engage in the detail of this because a lot is not in the public domain.”

Earlier this month, the officer was cleared of five disciplinary charges by an internal board of inquiry.

The matter was the subject of an investigation after the unclaimed bike was given to an isolated pensioner to use during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the necessary paperwork wasn’t completed.