Gardai launch investigation after ‘false and offensive’ WhatsApp messages about female officers

The messages, which were spread on garda-issued phones in recent weeks, were described as “offensive, false, inappropriate and malicious”

• 20:59, 26 OCT 2023
• UPDATED21:24, 26 OCT 2023

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The Garda Anti-Corruption Unit has launched an investigation into the circulation of internal WhatsApp messages amongst gardai which contained “false” allegations and information about two serving female officers.

Deputy Garda Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon on Thursday told a meeting of the Policing Authority that An Garda Siochana was “taking very seriously” the “abhorrent” text messages circulating on Garda-issued phones, which she described as “completely unacceptable”.

The deputy commissioner said the matter has been referred to the Anti-Corruption Unit, but could not confirm how many gardai are being investigated in relation to it.The Irish Times report that in one case a female senior officer in An Garda Siochana was targeted in messages that claimed she had been involved in a drink-driving incident, even though no such crime had taken place.