Tragic situation - Garda’s death

DESPITE calls from family and fellow gardaí for a judicial inquiry into the death of Garda Sergeant Michael Galvin — who appears to have taken his own life at a Garda station in Co Donegal a week ago — the Garda Ombudsman Commission is pressing ahead with its own investigation into the tragedy in which the commission is apparently linked. 

This unfortunate situation is compounded because, according to the dead man’s family, a GSOC interview with him concerning a fatal traffic accident was “horrendous”.

All too often in suicides, family members are left in a state of bewilderment. In this instance, however, the family is clearly blaming the manner of the GSOC criminal interview which left Sgt Galvin wondering if he might be jailed. As it happens, there was no evidence of wrongdoing, but he may have taken his life because bureaucracy prevented him from learning that information. Sadly, it was the difference between life and death. This tragedy brings home the need for a greater sense of urgency and humanity to prevent such tragedies in future.