Detective arrested on suspicion of organised crime links

The officer who had been arrested is a member of the elite Special Detective Unit of An Garda Síochána

The Special Detective Unit is responsible for  investigating terrorist groups, paramilitary activity, and organised crime. Stock picture:  Leah Farrell/RollingNews

A member of An Garda Síochána’s elite detective unit was arrested earlier this week and suspended from duty on foot of investigations concerning serving officers and potential links to organised crime.

The detective has since been released without charge but remains suspended, while a file is prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, a Garda spokesperson confirmed.

The arrest took place on Wednesday as part of “an ongoing criminal investigation” being conducted by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), which is charged with investigating links between Garda officers and criminal elements.

RTÉ News reported that the suspect may have taken directions from, and handled money for, the Hutch gang, one half of a bitter organised crime feud in Dublin, together with the Kinahan cartel, which stretches back as far as 2015.

It reported further that ammunition – the arrested man having been licensed to carry a weapon - and cash in the region of €40,000 was seized during searches associated with the arrest, including of the man’s home, while seized documents, laptops and phones are being examined, the electronic devices for emails, texts and voicemails.

The SDU is one of An Garda Siochana’s most specialised departments and is charged with the investigation of terrorist groups, paramilitary activity, and organised crime.

The arrested Garda is understood to have served with the SDU for many years, has been involved in investigations pertaining to paramilitary activity, and has given evidence at the Special Criminal Court on multiple occasions against people charged with IRA membership, amongst other offences.