Garda Ombudsman Commission to probe man’s death

THE new Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission will investigate the controversial death of a young man who was fatally injured in Lucan last March after being struck by a car driven by an off-duty garda.

The GSOC, which formally becomes operational tomorrow, will examine the background to the accident involving Derek O’Toole.

The 24-year-old shop worker from Clondalkin was already lying on the road at around 5am on March 4 when he was struck by the vehicle which contained a number of off-duty officers.

Although no criminal prosecutions are likely to arise from what is considered an unfortunate road accident, the GSOC believe it is in the interests of the victim’s family to investigate the matter because of public criticism of the gardaí’s handling of the case.

The victim’s family were angered and distressed by media reports quoting garda sources which wrongly suggested the dead man had a criminal background. They were also annoyed that they were not initially told by gardaí that the incident involved an off-duty force member.

It is believed that the GSOC has received a number of written requests to formally investigate the matter.

The new garda watchdog organisation will take over the caseload previously handled by the Garda Complaints Board. The GSOC is headed by a three-person board chaired by Mr Justice Kevin Haugh, assisted by two commissioners — former Irish Times editor Conor Brady and former director of consumer affairs Carmel Foley.

The GSOC has greater power and resources than its predecessor to investigate gardaí, although it warned that people who make false or vexatious complaints against gardaí will face criminal prosecution.

It will have a staff of more than 40 investigators who have been recruited from foreign police services such as Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.