Report due on garda suicide investigation

A VITAL report into the investigation of the suicide of a garda sergeant following questioning by the garda watchdog is expected to be with the Justice Minister within weeks.

Mr Justice Frank Clarke completed his inquiries several weeks ago and is concluding a report that is expected to make recommendations about investigative procedures.

He opened his probe in June last year into the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) investigators after Sgt Mick Galvin took his own life at Ballyshannon Garda Station in May.

Sgt Galvin, a 48-year-old father of three, did not know that he had been cleared of wrongdoing by a GSOC investigation.

His widow Colette spoke to a thronged church at his funeral Mass. She said: ‘He gave his life to the job and I hope that after today, all decent and honest members of An Garda Síochana will be allowed to do their jobs without horrendous and unnec- essary investigations by GSOC.’

GSOC officials had been questioning him about contact with a pedestrian, mother-of-three Sheena Stewart, 33, shortly before she died in collision with a minibus in the early hours of January 1 in Ballyshannon.

Sgt Galvin, a former manager of Sligo hurling and football teams, left a note addressed to his wife. It was later found by his colleagues. He wrote that he could no longer take the pressure of an investigation by GSOC, which had left him feeling like a criminal.

He wrote that he was innocent and he asked his loved ones to vindicate his good name after he was gone.

The Department of Justice said yesterday that Mr Justice Clarke is in the process of writing his report. A department spokesman said: ‘It is not known at this stage when the report will be made to the minister.’

Sources involved in the inquiry said the judge indicated three weeks ago that he expected to finish his report ‘within weeks’.

Note said he was left feeling like a criminal