Judge to lead probe into GSOC’s dealing with garda

A Supreme Court judge is to conduct an official inquiry into how the Garda Ombudsman investigated a garda sergeant, who took his life a week after being questioned.

Mr Justice Frank Clarke will lead what is the first statutory inquiry into the independent watchdog since it was set up in 2007 to investigate members of the force.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald yesterday said the inquiry was being set up to investigate the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) “following the tragic death of Sgt Michael Galvin”. The dad-of-three was investigated by GSOC as a result of garda contact with Sheena Stewart on January 1, 2015, shortly prior to her death in a road traffic accident.