Latest news with #Fiosrú
RTÉ News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Police Ombudsman in contact with Shane O'Farrell's family
The Police Ombudsman has said that it has been in direct contact with the family of Shane O'Farrell today. The family yesterday received a public apology from the Government, who admitted there had been "failures" on the part of the State in relation to Mr O'Farrell's death. The 23-year-old law graduate was knocked off his bicycle and killed in a hit-and-run incident near his home in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan in August 2011. The car that hit Mr O'Farrell was driven by Zigimantas Gridziuska. The Lithuanian national was a repeat offender on bail. A court ruling meant that he should have been in jail at the time of the collision due to his re-offending. Despite receiving the public apology from the Government yesterday, Shane's mother, Lucia said there are still questions to be answered in terms of how such circumstances could transpire that Gridziuska was on the road that day almost 14 years ago. Speaking outside the Dáil yesterday, Ms O'Farrell said: "Did you hear the litany of times he [Gridziuska] should have been brought back and wasn't, and why did that happen? Nobody is asking why. "I think those answers need to be given to us. "It doesn't have to be in the public inquiry, it can be in the GSOC [now Fiosrú - The Office of the Police Ombudsman] reports that have been refused to us. "There is a file on him [Gridziuska] in the Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service, what is in that file? "Our child lies in a grave. We should be given the answers and, apologies, yes, if it goes so far but we do need answers to our questions," Ms O'Farrell said. In a brief statement this evening, a spokesperson for Fiosrú said: "The Police Ombudsman has been in direct contact with O'Farrell family this afternoon and for now is not making any statement on the matter." The Office of the Police Ombudsman, Fiosrú, took over the responsibilities of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) from the beginning of last month. It is now the independent body that deals with complaints by the members of the public concerning members of An Garda Síochána.
Sunday World
22-05-2025
- Sunday World
Trial delayed for Garda superintendent accused of assaulting woman in Dublin
The case first came before the court on March 28. The officer was present then but remained at the back of the courtroom. A Garda Superintendent who denies attacking a woman on a Dublin street will go on trial in September. Gavin O'Reilly, whose address is given on his summons as Phoenix Park, is accused of assaulting a named woman at Strand Street Great on August 26, 2023. He also has a connected charge for engaging in threatening, abusive, and insulting behaviour on the same occasion. He denies the charges. Garda Superintendent Gavin O'Reilly News in 90 Seconds - May 22nd It follows an investigation by the Garda ombudsman (Fiosrú), and his hearing was due to take place at Dublin District Court yesterday/today after Judge John Hughes noted there was a not-guilty plea. However, the defence applied to have it vacated and put back to a later date. The judge scheduled the non-jury hearing for September 9, when the senior officer must attend the proceedings. The case first came before the court on March 28. The officer was present then but remained at the back of the courtroom. Disclosure of prosecution evidence was ordered, and the defence team had asked for the hearing to be held on "the earliest date possible". No evidence about the alleged incident was given during the brief hearing. The assault under section two of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, which is dealt with solely at a District Court level, carries a maximum six-month sentence. Under section six of the Public Order Act, the second charge on conviction can result in a three-month term of imprisonment.
Irish Examiner
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
No formal garda complaints from protestors removed during Gaza rally at Leinster House
None of the demonstrators removed from a rally for mothers and children killed in Gaza at the Dáil last month have made a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman, the Irish Examiner has learned. Up to 40 people – including members of the Mothers Against Genocide group – were involved in the overnight staged encampment that began on Mother's Day at the gates of Leinster House in Dublin. The group blocked the entrance to the Dáil and were given a direction and a period of time by gardaí to move under the Public Order Act the following morning. However, when they failed to do so, gardaí removed the protesters, causing outrage among some members of the public and TDs. In the Dáil, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett described it as a 'peaceful sit-down protest' and said the women were arrested 'violently, in some cases.' He said one woman told him: 'I was stripped completely naked and was asked to remove my underwear. When I questioned the necessity of this, I was told I would be forced violently if I didn't comply,' the account read. 'After removing my underwear, they looked inside my private areas and touched all my sensitive parts.' Deputy Boyd Barrett described the alleged behaviour as 'absolutely disgusting' and said the women 'were a threat to nobody.' While Solidarity–People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger said, 'Some of those women were strip-searched and one was subjected to a cavity search.' Mothers Against Genocide protesting outside Leinster House, Mother's Day 2025 The Irish Examiner has since learned that none of the protesters who were removed from the gates of Leinster House have submitted a formal complaint to the new garda Ombudsman. A spokesperson for Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, said it has received '61 contacts from concerned members of the public about the media reports of the protest.' The statement continued: 'It is open to anyone directly affected by or who has witnessed an act or omission by An Garda Síochána members to make a complaint to Fiosrú. 'Fiosrú does not share information relating to complaints made by or against individuals. This is to protect the investigative process, and the rights of both complainants and those complained against. 'Fiosrú is not in a position to comment any further.' The 61 complaints from members of the public include those who viewed videos of the incident on social media or read about it on the internet. It does not include anyone who was directly affected by the incident that unfolded during the encampment. Complaints can be submitted to Fiosrú up to a year after an alleged incident occurs involving gardaí. Megan Ní Ghabhláin of Mothers Against Genocide said at the time there had been a complete escalation by the gardaí against women involved in a peaceful protest at a time when few people were going in and out of the Dáil. 'Unfortunately, this morning, the gardaí decided they were going to remove these precious faces of these children in the most disrespectful manner,' she said. Garda presence as Mothers Against Genocide protest outside Leinster House, 31 March 2025 Labour Leader Ivana Bacik later said she was 'shocked' that anyone from Mothers Against Genocide would be arrested. Meanwhile, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said it was a 'heavy-handed approach' by gardaí. A garda spokesperson said at the time: 'The direction given by gardaí was not complied with and a number of individuals were subsequently arrested for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and conveyed to garda stations in Dublin. '10 females (20s, 30s, 40s and 50s) and one male (20s) were arrested under Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. 'All 11 people have received adult cautions. 'An additional three men (20s and 30s) were also arrested for alleged offences under sections 6, 9, and 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. 'The three individuals have been charged and are now before the courts.'
Sunday World
08-05-2025
- Sunday World
Garda facing trial after delivery driver's leg severed on M50 in Dublin
The accused garda has not indicated a plea and his barrister asked for disclosure of prosecution evidence. A garda faces trial after a Brazilian delivery driver's leg was severed by a car on the M50 in Dublin in 2023. João Henrique Ferreira, 24, who had lived in Ireland for five years, suffered serious injuries as he had been assisting friends in locating a stolen bicycle. When the incident allegedly occurred, he was at a slip road to the motorway in Tallaght. Following a probe by Fiosrú, the police ombudsman (formerly GSOC), criminal proceedings have commenced. Joao Henrique Ferreira (23) Garda Neil Doyle, of Dundrum station, was summonsed to appear at Dublin District Court today on a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm at Junction 11 north, at the M50 on October 28, 2023. The garda, dressed in a suit and tie, stood forward when the case was called, but did not address the court. The prosecution told Judge Michele Finan that this was the first listing of the case. Lawrence Masterson BL, instructed by solicitor Daniel Hughes, representing Mr Ferreira, said his client had travelled back from Brazil solely for the proceedings and "was anxious for the court to hear from him about the seriousness of the injuries". Garda Neil Doyle. Photo: Collins Courts News in 90 seconds - 8th May 2025 Judge Finan noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had authorised the case to stay in the District Court if the accused pleaded guilty. Otherwise, it would have to go to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. Judge Finan held off on hearing an outline of the allegations. The accused has not indicated a plea and his barrister asked for disclosure of prosecution evidence. Judge Finan noted that Mr Ferreira was set to go back to Brazil for further prosthetic surgery in two weeks. The prosecutor sought a four-week adjournment, which the judge granted. She also ordered the prosecution to provide the defence solicitor, Liz Hughes, with disclosure of evidence "as soon as possible" so the garda's legal team can "consider his position" and his plea. She told Garda Doyle he must return on June 12 to indicate a plea, and for the court to consider jurisdiction, and confirm his trial venue.
