Up to 20 gardai to be interviewed in the latest phase of corruption probe

UP to 20 rank and file gardai will be interviewed in the next phase of a wide-ranging criminal investigation into corruption in the force.

Specialist garda teams were dispatched to the region in the south last week to begin the first in a series of interviews with up to 20 gardai.

The purpose of the interviews is to find out whether gardai were instructed or encouraged to handle certain offences such as road traffic issues in a particular way. Sources stressed that the gardai themselves are not under investigation but may be potential witnesses.

Last week 14 gardaí and a number of GAA players were questioned as part of the inquiry.

The latest phase of the corruption probe is examining allegations that a senior garda may have intervened to prevent certain prosecutions for road traffic offences such as speeding and mobile phone use from proceeding.

The focus is on a number of GAA officials and hurling players. Several homes and properties were searched two weeks ago and mobile phones, documents and other items were seized.

Records were also removed from a garda station.

The rank and file gardai, many of them junior members of the force, will be interviewed by detectives with the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations, which is leading the internal garda probe. The interviews are expected to continue over the coming weeks.

The corruption investigation originally focused on collusion between gardai and criminals, but has since broadened out to include other issues unconnected to gangland crime.

The probe was launched last year after the Criminal Assets Bureau suspected information about planned search and seizure operations were being leaked to a crime gang.

Three gardai were suspended in May. In the aftermath, a number of gardai came forward to offer information to internal investigators.

The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, is setting up a new anti-corruption unit to investigate gardai before the end of this year.

He said major threats that could affect the integrity of the Gardai included “drugs, inappropriate associations with criminal gangs and inappropriate behaviour towards vulnerable victims, vulnerable females in particular”.