FOUR serving Gardaí and a retired senior officer are facing charges in connection with a long-running Garda investigation into alleged corruption offences.
The five individuals appeared by appointment separately at a Garda station today for to be arrested and charged.
“As part of an investigation led by the Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime (OSC) into alleged corruption in public office, four members of An Garda Síochána based in the south of the country and a private citizen were arrested and charged today with offences relating to perverting the course of justice,” a Garda spokesman said.
“This follows directions being received from the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
“All five individuals have been released on station bail and are due to appear before Limerick District Court on the 14th May 2021.”
“As this investigation by Gardaí attached to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) is ongoing, An Garda Síochána will not be commenting further,” they added.
The probe, which has developed various strands, began two years ago into allegations concerning a number of individual gardaí and civilians.
Up to 100 people are being questioned as part of the investigation.
Last November, eight gardaí were suspended as part of the same investigation.
This element of the investigation has focussed on alleged corruption in public office, and on claims that individual gardaí squared away potential fixed charge penalty notice prosecutions relating to a number of individuals.
Those charged today include a retired Garda Superintendent who is understood to be facing in the region of 30 charges, while the four serving gardai are understood to be facing approximately a dozen charges between them.
Last October, mobile phones and documents were seized from a number of gardaí, as well as persons and players involved in sporting circles.
A number of Garda stations have also been searched as part of the probe.
