Three Garda officers are facing prosecution following an incident involving a 17-year-old boy, which allegedly began with one officer squirting water at him.
PThe Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has instructed that the officers, all stationed in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, be charged following an investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), the independent policing watchdog.
The charges, which include assault and false imprisonment, stem from an investigation into the incident that occurred approximately six months ago on a street in Dublin.
Although the officers have not yet appeared in court, they have been summoned to do so.
The situation has caused significant discontent among rank-and-file Gardaí, with many expressing frustration over the charges. One officer remarked, “Everyone in the DMR is talking about it. The feeling is the members are really unlucky to be charged, and now their jobs are on the line over a silly incident.”
The incident reportedly began when the three Gardaí stopped the teenager for a drugs search. During the interaction, a confrontation allegedly ensued, during which one of the Gardaí is said to have squirted water at the boy from a plastic bottle. The officers then detained the teenager for a second drugs search, leading to the charges of false imprisonment.
A source familiar with the case indicated that the second detention may have lacked legal basis, as the teenager had already been detained for the initial drugs search just minutes earlier. This aspect of the case has reportedly led to the charge of false imprisonment.
Additionally, the assault charge is believed to relate to a “section two” offence, involving the officers physically handling the teenager during the second search. A source noted, “It is not a serious assault, but it is an alleged offence regardless.”
GSOC has declined to comment on the case, with a spokesperson stating, “GSOC does not confirm or deny the existence of complaints made by or against individuals. This is to protect the investigative process and the rights of both complainants and those complained against. GSOC is not in a position to comment further.”
The three Gardaí are expected to appear in Dublin District Court in the near future, where they could face fines or imprisonment if convicted. The Gardaí have also refrained from commenting on the ongoing GSOC investigation.
