Interview ‘hugely distressed’ Garda sergeant

The solicitor for Sergeant Michael Galvin, who killed himself while under investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, said he tried to assure the father of three that he had no case to answer.

Michael Hegarty, who regularly represents members of the force facing disciplinary and criminal inquiries, said it was clear Sgt Galvin was blameless but the GSOC process caused him “huge distress”.

Sgt Galvin shot himself at Ballyshannon Garda Station in Co Donegal on Thursday last week, a week after he was interviewed by GSOC in relation to an incident in the early hours of New Year’s Day when a local woman, Sheena Stewart, was knocked down and killed.