Transfer for senior garda who is under investigation over alleged racial abuse of nightclub bouncer

Today at 02:30

A high-ranking garda under investigation for allegedly racially abusing a male security guard and assaulting a female member of staff at a Dublin nightclub has been transferred to a specialist unit.

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

The incident took place in late August at a well-known city nightspot and the matter was referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc).

The senior officer has not been arrested, but gardaí did take initial statements of complaint from the two alleged victims, a female bar manager and a security guard, in the immediate aftermath. Gardaí handed over the probe in its entirety to Gsoc, which has the power to arrest the superintendent if necessary.

It has now emerged that the senior officer has now been transferred from the busy station where he was based, to a specialist unit, where he is assigned to office-based duties.

This transfer is as a direct consequence of him being under investigation, and to ensure he does not have dealings with the general public while the probe is ongoing.

One source familiar with the case said that there were sometimes “two rules” in such cases.

“If this officer was rank and file, he would likely be suspended by now. Instead, he has just been moved sideways,” said the source.

It is understood the senior officer was out socialising with friends when the incident took place on August 26.

It is alleged the situation began as a verbal row with the DJ at the venue and it then escalated.

The superintendent left the premises, but then returned. He is reported to have racially abused a security guard and then slapped a phone out of a female bar manager’s hand when she tried to intervene.

The source said: “The alleged assault is at the lower end of the scale. The more serious element for the officer concerned is the racial abuse allegation he directed at the bouncer. This has the potential to be investigated as a hate crime by Gsoc. There are three witnesses to the incident in question.”

Gardaí were contacted and attended the scene. It is understood the senior officer was placed in handcuffs and put into the back of a squad car.

He was not arrested, but handcuffed to “calm the situation down”.

He then told the rank-and-file officer that he was a garda superintendent, in what is being viewed as an attempt to “pull rank” during the course of his detainment.

The garda, who did not know the superintendent and could not verify his identity, opted to phone a senior colleague to attend the scene.

A more senior officer was contacted and attended the scene. He was able to verify the man’s identity.