Latest news with #Fiosru
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Garda accused of paying criminal to attack female officer's home learns fate
No charges are to be brought against a Garda who was alleged to have paid a criminal to throw a brick through the window of a female officer's home. The Irish Mirror has learned that an investigation by Fiosru (Formerly GSOC) into the officer, who was suspended from duty in 2022, resulted in a file being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) - which has now ruled no charges are to be brought against him. The decision means a near three year external investigation into the officer has resulted in no prosecution- and the garda may be able to return to his duties soon. He is however understood to still be subject to an internal disciplinary process and remains suspended from the force at this time. The Garda had been subject to an investigation by the Garda Anti Corruption task force when the revelations first became known and were reported by this paper in early 2023. Asked for comment about the development, the Garda press office stated 'This is not a matter for An Garda Síochána at this time. You would be best placed to contact Fiosrú in relation to your query.' A spokesperson for Fiosru meanwhile told us: 'Fiosrú cannot make a comment at this time.' Meanwhile the female officer who was the alleged target of the brick attack remains suspended and has been under investigation herself for alleged harassment. It is understood that officers expect there to be charges in this case. She was alleged to have accessed the force's internal computer system to change her love rivals phone number - and then send her abusive messages and voicemails. It was also alleged that she tried to enter the couple's house to confront her rival - but was only scared away when the woman started recording the Garda on her mobile phone. We previously reported that the alleged brick attack saw the attacker driven to and picked up from the scene by an innocent taxi driver. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Officers had tracked down the taxi driver who confirmed he'd been asked to bring a man to the estate where the female officer was residing. He also told gardai that the man in the taxi asked him to wait at the scene and he came back a few minutes later before telling him to drive off. Detectives quickly established that the fare was a low-level criminal and small-time drug dealer from the same town - and he was then arrested on suspicion of attacking the officer's house. He was held at the local Garda station – and initially refused to make any comment. But detectives then raided his house and found a secret phone, with voice notes still on it. One of the messages, sources told us at the time, warned the criminal that he had been identified as the main suspect for the attack on the female officer's home. It's understood the voice note told the criminal to get out of his house before he could be arrested. The criminal was later confronted with the voice notes and claimed to detectives he was paid €300 by the officer to attack the female garda's home. Garda bosses in the station immediately called in the force's Dublin-based Anti-Corruption Unit – who specialise in hunting down allegations of wrongdoing by serving officers. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Irish Sun
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Gardai face legal action over alleged failure during Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson's Donegal murder probe
GARDAI are facing legal action over an alleged failure to comply with a probe into the murder of Denis Donaldson, it has emerged. Policing oversight body Fiosru, which recently replaced the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission, has said it takes the view that 2 Denis Donaldson was shot at his family's remote cottage in the Glenties, Donegal Credit: Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. It has decided to start proceedings in A letter seen by The Donaldson family has been informed of Fiosru's intention to launch the action. Enda McGarrity, the Donaldson family's solicitor, said the GSOC/Fiosru probe had been ongoing for three years. Read more in News He told 'That's a matter of significant concern to the family because the body which is charged with investigating the murder of Denis Donaldson are now not only being investigated, but failing to comply with investigation and that gives rise to family's wider concern that the State are currently not delivering an effective investigation.' Mr Donaldson, a senior His exposure came after he was accused of being part of a republican spy ring at Stormont, but the Most read in Irish News Mr Donaldson was shot at his family's remote cottage in the Glenties just four months later. His daughter Jane complained to GSOC three years ago over the Garda response to information regarding threats to her father's life. She claimed An Garda Siochana failed to take adequate measures to protect his life despite being told by the The Donaldson family is also seeking to have Denis' journal returned to them from Garda hands. Last Friday, the Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme and an accompanying online story which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of Mr Donaldson, in which he denies any involvement. Last month, a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him €100,000 after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. The BBC, which was found by the jury not to have acted in good faith nor in a fair and reasonable way, was also ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader's legal costs. 2 Denis Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years Credit: PA:Press Association
Times
15-06-2025
- Times
No inquiry into garda gun sting linked to Carlow shooting
Fiosru, the garda watchdog, has said it did not investigate the sting operation in which undercover officers supplied guns and ammunition to Evan Fitzgerald, the Carlow man who opened fire inside a shopping centre before turning the weapon on himself. As there were calls for a full inquiry into the 'controlled delivery' of arms to Fitzgerald, Fiosru has moved to clarify that it got a notification about an 'incident of concern' from An Garda Siochana on May 21. Despite commentary that the garda ombudsman investigated the Fitzgerald case over a three-week period before deciding against taking further action, Fiosru has said it did not conduct a full inquiry into the matter. 'Fiosru did not undertake an investigation. As reported by the garda commissioner to the joint Oireachtas committee, Fiosru examined the information submitted by An Garda Siochana,' a Fiosru spokesman said.
The Irish Sun
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
FBI tipped off gardai to Carlow shooter's attempts to buy guns on dark web as fresh controlled delivery details emerge
GARDAI carried out a controlled delivery of firearms to Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald after being tipped off by the FBI about attempts to buy them on the dark web. Senior sources told the Irish Sun that Advertisement Fitzgerald He Labour's Alan Kelly this week raised questions over the 'proportionality' of the He asked if they could have looked at alternative interventions given Fitzgerald was not involved in organised crime and had 'some issues.' Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS It followed a €2,700 payment being allegedly paid over for the acquisition of firearms and ammo. Controlled delivery is a common methodology used by police forces worldwide. It sees a handover of illicit items to a suspect, who has sought to get them, by an undercover police officer. Advertisement Most read in Irish News A senior source said: 'Gardai were correct to act in the initial case last year and act on information passed to them. 'Controlled delivery is a very common method used by police forces worldwide.' Man walked through Carlow shopping centre firing into air before being confronted by cops as crowds ran from scene In a statement on the matter, a spokesperson said: 'An Garda Siochana is precluded by law from commenting on protected disclosures. "An Garda Siochana does not comment on matters before the courts. Advertisement "In general and without commenting on any specific case, An Garda Siochana use a range of internationally recognised investigative techniques when tackling serious crimes such as the sale and supply of drugs and procuring of firearms, either of which could then be used to cause significant harm to the public. "One of these is controlled deliveries. In controlled deliveries if any material is used it is made safe by the law enforcement agency before being used, ie firearms are deactivated. 'ALLEGATIONS REFERRED' "Following these allegations being published by a national newspaper in May 2025, the Garda Commissioner referred these allegations to Fiosru for independent examination in line with the 'incidents of concern' provision in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, and relevant material was provided. "As stated by the Commissioner, Fiosru has informed An Garda Siochana that it would not be taking any further action on the matter. Advertisement "The individual involved was charged following independent evaluation of the Garda investigation by the Director of Public Prosecutions.' During Fitzgerald's first court appearance, gardai initially objected to his bail but then acceded to it under strict conditions which the accused had stuck to until the day of taking his own Another source explained that Fitzgerald did not have any criminal history, which made it difficult to prevent him from getting bail when charged last year. 'NUMBER OF FACTORS' This source added: 'There are a number of factors that the gardai could object under, such as being a flight risk, interference of witnesses or the risk of committing a serious offence while on bail or the seriousness of the alleged crimes. Advertisement 'But this all has to be backed up by examples and facts. "The fact is that this man had no criminal history whatsoever to back up any such concerns.' The Irish Sun last week revealed how cops probing Fitzgerald's death seized a USB stick found taped to his friend's bedroom window. They are now examining its contents in a bid to get answers behind his actions. Advertisement 1 Gardai were tipped off by the FBI after Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald tried to buy guns on the dark web Credit: GARDA
Sunday World
27-05-2025
- Sunday World
Teenager sues Garda chief over injuries after being kicked multiple times in the head
Justin Covaci, who is suing through his mother Florina, claims gardaí assaulted him last year. A teenager who sustained shocking head injuries during a traffic arrest is now suing the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice in the High Court. Papers were filed on May 15 by solicitor David Harrington, acting for Justin Covaci who is suing through his mother Florina. The civil case comes as Fiosru – formerly the Garda Ombudsman Commission – is carrying out its own investigation into Justin's claims that the injuries occurred as a result of being kicked several times in the head by an officer following a traffic stop in Dublin. It's understood Fiosru has taken statements from a number of those present on the night of November 23, 2024 when the stop occurred. Today's News in 90 Seconds. A Garda spokesperson previously said the stop had occurred after an alleged incident of dangerous driving and that the driver was released pending referral to the youth diversion programme. In an interview with the Sunday World, Justin alleged that he had sustained two black eyes, a haemorrhage in his left eye and cuts requiring seven stitches as a result of being kicked in the head 'two or three times' after he was removed from his vehicle, restrained on the ground and cuffed. Justin said he had been dropping friends home in his mother's 141-Audi when he accidentally pulled out in front of a Garda jeep, causing it to swerve to avoid a collision. 'I was dropping the lads home. I was coming out of my estate, there's a left turn going towards the Whitestown area and a left turn going towards Centra in Huntstown. 'I took the right turn and as soon as I did I saw a white jeep coming at a high speed. 'At the time I jammed on the brakes but they had to swerve to avoid me … if he didn't swerve, there would have been an impact … probably a deadly impact. 'I drove away thinking everything was all good and I drove on for about 20 or 30 seconds when I saw the blue lights behind me. 'I panicked at the start. I didn't know what to do really – why they were telling me to stop. 'So, initially, I did drive on. I drove on about 10 or 20 seconds more and then I put the hazard lights on before I came to a stop. 'They hopped out of the car, my doors were locked and then three of them rushed up. I was still in the car so I unlocked the doors because they were banging on the windows fairly hard. Justin Covaci 'As soon as I opened the door, one of them threw me on the floor and he put me into handcuffs straight away. 'And then boom .. I got a few strikes in the head … two or three kicks straight in the middle of the face. 'They brought me back to Finglas Garda Station and I was detained there for a while until my ma came.' Speaking of his injuries, Justin said: 'At the moment I have blurred vision but I have to go back again for a check-up.' Justin had seven stitches above and below his eye after the incident Florina said she brought her son back to Finglas Garda Station to make a formal complaint of assault against the arresting gardaí.
