Very small number’ of gardaí who did not reveal they had barring orders against them to face disciplinary action

  26th February 2022

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A “very small number” of gardaí face disciplinary action for failing to disclose that they have been issued with barring orders.

Garda Headquarters is currently carrying out a review into how domestic violence investigations into its members were conducted.

This was launched last year following the murder of Sarah Everard in the UK by Met police officer Wayne Couzens, who was previously suspected of other offences.

The ongoing review is also looking at whether gardaí failed to disclose to their superiors that they were issued with a barring order by the courts.

The Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has told the Irish Independent a “very small number” now face disciplinary action as a result.

Speaking after the Policing Authority meeting in Dublin Castle on Thursday, he said those who have been issued with barring orders may also have their duties restricted.

“The review is ongoing, it’s part of a number of things.

“We want to look at where we’d been aware of cases of domestic abuse, what the disposal had looked like, how the matter had been dealt with perhaps through the courts, and how our discipline system had worked.

“If they are still with us, we will look at what duties they were engaged in and whether that needs to be addressed.

“And similarly, those we’ve identified as having barring orders, did they tell us? What was the response? We want to make sure they’re involved then in appropriate duties and maybe restrict their duties in effect,” Mr Harris told the Irish Independent.

“Lastly, we wanted to identify, was there a group where they’d been issued barring orders and they hadn’t informed the authorities of these barring orders?

“There are a number of inquiries we’re pursuing in that respect as well. I don’t want to give you a specific number, because I feel some of them will probably resolve themselves in terms of names and so on, and actually what happened.

“But I do believe we have a number, it’s a very small number, who had barring orders issued and haven’t informed us, in which case., that is a misconduct issue,” the Garda Commissioner said.

Between 2019 and last year, a total of 21 gardaí had informed their bosses that they had barring orders issued against them, with the figure expected to rise following the launch of the review.

Gardaí are required to inform their chief superintendent of this as part of ensuring a more robust internal vetting process within the force.

Chair of the Policing Authority, Bob Collins, told the Irish Independent there has been a “very significant development” in the Garda approach to gender-based violence.

He pointed to the establishment of protective service units in every division, and the 92pc of members that have undertaken training relating to domestic violence.