Sergeant thought he faced prison after questioning by GSOC

The garda sergeant who last week died by apparent suicide in a Donegal garda station had told his wife he was facing up to five years in prison after being questioned by Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) investigators.

The revelation emerged as Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald confirmed she is to initiate an independent judicial inquiry into the conduct of GSOC’s investigation into Sergeant Michael Galvin. He died on May 28, days after GSOC questioned him under caution on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and making a false and misleading statement.

The 48 year-old and a colleague had stopped their car and spoken to Sheena Stewart, 33, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, 2014. Sgt Galvin made a statement that the woman was on the footpath. He and his colleague were on their way to a hit-and-run accident and reassured Ms Stewart they would come back to her afterwards. Ms Stewart was subsequently hit by a vehicle and died.