41% rise in the number of complaints received by Garda ombudsman

67 files were forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions arising from Gsoc investigations in 2024, up from 40 in 2023. Stock picture

There has been a 41% increase in the number of complaints received by the garda ombudsman in a year, according to its latest annual report.

It received a total of 2,226 complaints from the public in 2024 and opened 37 investigations on referral by gardaí following incidents involving death or serious harm.

But in the year before, 2023, Gsoc had received a total of 1,577 new complaints and 35 referrals from gardaí.

In addition, 67 files were forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions arising from Gsoc investigations in 2024, up from 40 in 2023.

It received 48 directions from the DPP in return last year. 

Of these, the DPP directed the prosecution of 22 offences and no prosecution in relation to 35 investigations.

During the past year, the watchdog — which has been renamed Fiosrú since April this year — received 31 protected disclosures, had closed 37 and had 51 on hand by the end of the year.

The year before, the watchdog had received 28, closed 18 and had 268 on hand by the end of the year.

While complaints were up, a total of 942 were deemed “inadmissable”.

However, of all the complaints, the main areas complained about were neglect of duty, allegations of a criminal offence, abuse of authority and discourtesy.

They made up 38%, 22%, 15% and 10% of complaints respectively.

An example of a case brought to Gsoc was a referral made by a superintendent after a member of the public alleged they had been assaulted while in Garda custody by a sergeant not involved in their arrest.

A junior member of An Garda Síochána alleged she was instructed by her sergeant to create a false record of the incident in the Garda Custody Record. The member later amended the entry and detailed the correct version of events.

The sergeant entered a not guilty plea to two charges but was found guilty by a district court judge and convicted on both charges - Assault Contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 and another charge, described by the Judge as the more serious charge, of attempting to pervert the course of justice contrary to Common Law.

In another case, a garda was found in breach of discipline in relation to three counts of Neglect of Duty after he failed to investigate a complaint by a man in relation to coercive control by their ex-partner.

A​nother case highlighted by the GSOC report related to a Garda member whose brother was detained by security​ at an event, following allegations of sexual assault by a female attendee. 

The ​Garda member attended and identified himself as a Garda. He removed his​ brother from the scene.​ No complaint was received. However the Superintendent referred the matter to​ GSOC, who subsequently opened a discipline investigation in the public interest.​ The member was found in breach of discipline and subsequently reprimanded​ by the Garda Commissioner.