Garda who loaned bike to elderly man during Covid awarded damages after being 'pursued like a criminal'

Garda Representative Association (GRA) General Secretary Ronan Slevin said the case against the garda was shameful and 'should have never reached this point'. File picture

A garda who was suspended from work and criminally investigated after he loaned a bicycle to a farmer during the Covid pandemic has been awarded more than €250,000 in damages.

The case was settled in the High Court after the detective took a personal injury claim against the Garda Commissioner, the minister for justice and the Attorney General.

The State settled the case with a confidentiality agreement almost two weeks ago, agreeing to pay the detective more than €270,000 including legal costs.

A farmer in his 70s had been living alone in the garda’s area in the midlands at the time. He had problems with blood circulation, his leg was turning blue and he was told to get a bicycle and exercise more by his doctor.

But the bicycle the farmer bought could not be delivered as the Covid pandemic struck, suddenly closing businesses in March, 2020.

The garda, who had almost 30 years unblemished service with An Garda Síochána, took an unclaimed bike from the ‘lost and found’ section in the garda station which had been there for some time and was not part of any criminal investigation, and gave it to the farmer on loan.

But this attempt to help the farmer during a global pandemic was subsequently investigated by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which investigates serious crimes, and the garda’s home was raided one morning while his family was still sleeping in bed.

The garda was suspended from duty for some three years over the case.

The case was criminally investigated and a file was sent to the DPP, which directed not to press charges.

'Shameful' actions 

The garda subsequently took legal action against the State, citing 37 grounds for negligence, breach of duty, and breach of contract.

Garda Representative Association (GRA) General Secretary Ronan Slevin said the case against the garda was shameful and “should have never reached this point".

“This was a clear case of a rural garda doing his duty and helping out an isolated and vulnerable member of his community during covid and he was pursued like a criminal,” Mr Slevin said.

“This member was left suspended for years without clear and fair process, which to me is shameful.

“I am just relieved that common sense has finally prevailed and we hope a lesson has been learned here in the value and importance of compassionate community policing and the benefits of recognising such for the good of our members and the public we serve.” 

Mr Slevin said that he was unaware of the exact details or terms of the confidential settlement.