‘restrictive duties’ | 

Probe into senior garda’s alleged racial abuse of bouncer upgraded to criminal inquiry

The incident took place on August 26 at a well-known city nightspot

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The Garda watchdog has launched a criminal investigation into a garda superintendent who allegedly racially abused a bouncer at a city centre pub and also allegedly assaulted a female member of staff at the same venue.

The Sunday Independent reported last month that the case was referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc), in line with protocol.

After examining the case, Gsoc has now upgraded it to a criminal investigation.

The incident took place on August 26 at a well-known city nightspot. It is understood the senior officer was out socialising with friends at the time.

It is alleged the situation began with a verbal row between the garda and the DJ at the venue.

The superintendent left the premises, but returned some time later.

He is reported to have racially abused a bouncer and then to have slapped a phone out of a female bar manager’s hand after she tried to intervene.

Gardaí were called and the Leinster-based superintendent is reported to have told the rank-and-file garda who placed him in handcuffs “do you not know who I am?”, leading to the investigating garda contacting senior colleagues to attend the scene.

The senior officer has not been arrested, but gardaí did take initial statements of complaint from the female bar manager as well as the bouncer at the venue. Gardaí then handed over the entire probe to Gsoc.

Given that the watchdog has now launched a criminal probe, it has the power to arrest the superintendent if necessary.

The senior garda has been placed on “restrictive duties” meaning he has been restricted to office-bound duties.