Watchdog urged to apologise to gardaí cleared of charges

Rank-and-file gardaí are demanding the garda watchdog make a full apology to two of their colleagues who were charged with causing harm to a violent youth they were forced to subdue with pepper spray — and then had the charges against them dismissed.

After the two gardaí were cleared of any wrong-doing, GSOC (Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission) maintained there was no verdict delivered, which infuriated members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA).

It has now transpired that a verdict totally exonerating the two gardaí was written into the court records.