94 Gardaí currently suspended from force, new figures show
94 Gardaí are currently suspended from the force for a combined total of 89,534 days, new figures have revealed.
In the first six months of this year alone, 14 members have been suspended from An Garda Síochána. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan divulged the figures following a parliamentary question from Independent TD Carol Nolan.
The Fianna Fáil minister stated that the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, is 'responsible for the management and administration of Garda business by law, including Garda discipline'.
As of June 6, Mr O'Callaghan said, there were 94 members of An Garda Síochána suspended. There are five guards who were suspended in either 2018 or 2019, who have been suspended for a total of 10,858 days combined.
This year so farm some 14 Gardaí were suspended already, for a combined 1,231 days. Mr Harris became Commissioner in 2018, meaning all 94 have been suspended during his tenure.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) have been critical of the number of suspensions and their duration under Mr Harris. The GRA previously suggested the Commissioner's record in relation to discipline has seen 'excessive harshness'.
A Garda spokesman told the Irish Mirror: 'Commissioner Harris has repeatedly stated that the vast majority of Gardaí act in a highly disciplined and ethical manner' but there are 'times, when in order to maintain public trust, it is necessary to suspend Gardaí subject to disciplinary investigations'.
He continued: 'Every individual suspended from An Garda Síochána are reviewed on a three-monthly basis. There are 94 Gardaí suspended out of 14,318 Gardaí. Or 0.65 per cent of Gardaí.
'Contrary to some recent commentary, when looked at on a factual basis rather than on hyperbole comment, this can hardly be considered as a significant level of suspensions. The majority of suspensions relate to off-duty matters.'
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