Garda held over claims of sex assault

The arrest yesterday of a garda for an alleged sexual assault is the first time the Garda ombudsman has ever arrested a police officer.

The move is seen as a landmark for the watchdog body and underlines the seriousness of the alleged offence.

It is understood that the female victim had come in contact with gardaí — including the alleged offender — during an earlier search of a premises she was in.