'No illegal activity' when Garda negotiated return to politics

There were questions over whether Noel O'Donovan had broken Garda disciplinary rules 

Under the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, being involved in a political party is deemed as a 'prohibited spare-time activity'. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

A Cork local election hopeful has said there was no wrongdoing when he negotiated his return to politics with Fine Gael while still a serving Garda.

There were questions over whether Noel O'Donovan, running in the Skibbereen local electoral area, broke Garda disciplinary rules that prevent serving gardaí from “actively or publicly” identifying with a political party.

Under the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, being involved in a political party is deemed as a “prohibited spare-time activity”.

However, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said that “any alleged breaches of internal discipline only apply or may be considered while the person is in service”.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr O’Donovan confirmed that he was in negotiations with Fine Gael while he was a serving member of An Garda Síochána, but that there was “no illegal activity” involved with such discussions.

Mr O’Donovan had previously served as a Fine Gael councillor on Cork County Council between 2011 and 2017, before leaving the party to join An Garda Síochána.

“Obviously, I was a councillor before and I resigned as a member of Fine Gael before I joined An Garda Síochána,” Mr O’Donovan said.

I know all political parties would, probably, if they were seeking to run members of An Garda Síochána, talk to them, but certainly there was no illegal activity or anything.

A spokesperson for Fine Gael said: “Noel O’Donovan resigned from Cork County Council and from Fine Gael in January 2017 to pursue a career as a member of An Garda Síochána.

“He served as a member of An Garda Síochána until February 2021. 

"He left the force to work in his family’s grocery business in Roscarberry.

“He rejoined Fine Gael in March 2021. He was subsequently selected as a Fine Gael candidate to contest the 2024 local elections in the Skibbereen local electoral area."

Mr O’Donovan said that it had previously been a “big shock” for him to leave politics initially to join the gardaí, but that it was part of a plan to keep “helping people”.

He said that his campaign has been off to a good start, with a positive reaction from locals since returning to the political fold.

Noel O'Donovan confirmed that he was in negotiations with Fine Gael while he was a serving member of An Garda Síochána, but that there was 'no illegal activity' involved with such discussions. File picture 

Ahead of the 2020 general election, there had been rows within Cork South-West Fine Gael, over the selection of two Fine Gael candidates — Senator Tim Lombard and Karen Coakley.

There was outrage within the Clonakilty branch of Fine Gael, with 500 local party members signing a petition for Mr O’Donovan to be added to the party’s general election ticket.

However, Mr Donohoe intervened and confirmed to party members that no additional candidate would be added to the ticket.