Senior garda charged with rape offences
Figures show there are currently 94 members of the force suspended from duty
A senior garda has been suspended from duty after appearing in court charged with a number of rape offences.
He was arrested following a long-running investigation into alleged sexual offences led by specialist detectives.
The garda, who has a legal right to anonymity due to the nature of the alleged offences, appeared before a sitting of a district court last month where he was formally charged.
The senior garda faces three counts of rape against a female, which allegedly occurred on separate dates in the same year a number of years ago.
The injured party in the case was known to him.
One of the alleged offences is contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990.
Court records state that the other two charges relate to offences contrary to Section 48 Offences Against the Person Act, 1861 and Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act, 1981 as amended by section 21 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990.
Figures show there are currently 94 members of the force suspended from duty
News in 90 Seconds - Sunday, August 3rd
He has also been suspended from duty by An Garda Síochána.
His first court appearance was last month and he was remanded on bail. The senior officer is expected to appear in court again later this year.
The legislation under which he is charged means he will face trial on indictment before the Central Criminal Court, which hears the most serious sexual offences.
A Garda spokesperson said last night: 'As part of a Garda investigation into alleged sexual offences, a member of An Garda Síochána in Munster has been arrested and charged. The Garda is suspended.'
The most recent figures available show that there are currently 94 members of An Garda Siochána suspended from duty.
The figures, as of June 6, shows that these members have been suspended for a combined total of 89,534 days.
They were released by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan following a parliamentary question by Sinn Fein TD Carol Nolan.
These suspensions relate to a wide range of issues including theft, disclosure of information and assaults.
Over a third of suspensions also relate to sexual assaults, driving while under the influence, and domestic violence.
A large number of incidents which have resulted in a member of An Garda Síochána being removed from duty have also occurred while they were off-duty.
The Policing and Community Safety Authority heard in May that around 55 gardaí were at that time also on 'non-public facing duties'.
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