8 gardai suspended in corruption probe

Claims they failed to pursue enquiries

EIGHT gardai have been suspended over claims of alleged corruption as part of a major garda probe in the Munster region.

A spokesman confirmed the action was taken on Saturday as a result of an ongoing investigation which is being led by an Assistant Commissioner, Special Crime Operations.

The suspensions come after lengthy enquiries by a team of officers attached t o t h e Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

The probe is focused on claims gardai did not pursue enquiries into alleged road traffic offences and public order allegations against a number of parties.

A spokesman sai d: “Further t o an ongoing i nvestigation l ed by t he Assi st ant Commissioner, Special Crime Operations, i n v o l v i n g p e r s o n n e l a tt a c h e d t o t h e Gard a National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, eight members of An Garda S i o c h a n a h a v e b e e n suspended.

“Thi s e l e ment of t h e investigation is focused on corruption in public office.“

“As this is an ongoing investigation, An

Garda Siochana will not be commenting on the rank or the location of the members of An Gard a Siochana who have been suspended.”

L a s t Octo b e r, mobi l e phones and documents we r e s e i z e d f r o m a number of gardai, as well as GAA players and officials.

Several Garda stations have al so been searched as part of the probe.

A number of gardai have made voluntar y statements. A wider probe into alleged Garda corruption is continuing in the Munster region which has led to a number of gardai being arrested and questioned on suspicion of serious corrupt offences.

RTE said this was the largest number of gardai ever dismissed in one day and there are now 11 officers suspended as part of the investigation.

One Garda and a businessman have already been charged and have appeared b e f o r e t h e c o u r t s , t h e n a t i o n a l broadcaster reports.

The Limerick Leader newspaper s ai d a number of t h e su sp e nded officers are attached to stations in that county.