A Garda based in north Dublin has been suspended amid an internal and criminal investigation into allegations that he attempted to use the darknet to hire a contract killer, reportedly targeting his ex-partner.
The officer, whose name has not been released, is currently under investigation by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit. The inquiry is focused on whether the Garda made genuine efforts to engage with hitmen operating on hidden darknet platforms.
Detectives are also examining whether a domestic dispute between the officer and his former partner may have led to the alleged attempt to solicit a murder-for-hire.
Sources indicate that his use of the darknet may date back to 2021 and that investigators are exploring whether he used the platform for other criminal activities as well.
A criminal investigation is underway, and if sufficient evidence is found, a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The Garda Representative Association has been informed of the serious nature of the allegations.
One source familiar with the case said, “The garda is now suspended after these bizarre allegations were made against him. He has yet to be arrested, but this is a serious matter. It’s the first time a Garda has been subjected to an investigation involving the darknet.”
A Garda spokesperson, when contacted for comment, confirmed the suspension, stating: “As part of an ongoing investigation by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit into alleged serious criminality, a Garda based in Dublin has been suspended.”
The darknet, often accessed through encrypted browsers, is known to host marketplaces for illegal services and goods, including contract killing, narcotics, and firearms.
It is also infamously used for illicit activities such as child exploitation and cryptocurrency-based criminal enterprises.
The investigation remains ongoing.
