A GARDA has been dismissed from the force after an internal investigation into the leaking of confidential information to a criminal gang concluded he should not be allowed to remain working.
The garda at the centre of the case has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
He is also the subject of a criminal investigation, and faces up to seven years in jail if it is found he profited financially from passing information to the gang.
The Irish Times understands the detectives investigating the garda are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions, which may result in him facing criminal charges.
The garda has been based in Dublin for the last number of years. He is suspected of allowing members of a gang involved in major drug dealing and gun crime to access confidential Garda files on criminal investigations into the gang’s activities.
The gang has been the target of major gangland Garda operations in Dublin in recent years. It is regarded as a key drugs and gun operation in the city, active in very serious gangland crime.
Garda Headquarters declined to comment on the case, saying it did not comment on internal Garda matters.
The existence of an internal investigation into the garda’s involvement with the gang came to light about six months ago. A parallel criminal investigation was also under way at that stage.
Both investigations have progressed in recent months, with the internal investigation culminating in the garda’s dismissal from the force. It is believed he was informed of his dismissal this week, and has formally ended his employment as a garda in the last couple of days.
The garda at the centre of the case was questioned by detectives late last year and earlier this year as part of the ongoing criminal investigation into the matter.
It is unclear when the DPP will decide whether the garda will also face criminal charges. If charged and convicted, he faces being sent to prison. It is illegal under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 for any member of the force to disclose information relating to the work of the Garda.
If convicted of disclosing information, a member of the force faces a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine of up to €50,000. If found guilty of disclosing information for money or any other inducement, the penalties are harsher.
A garda would face a maximum prison term of seven years on conviction and/or a fine of up to €75,000.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern brought the case to Cabinet on June 1st, which approved the dismissal.
The dismissal of two other gardaí was also approved by Cabinet on the same day. However, their dismissals are in no way connected to that of their colleague.
One of the other two gardaí was dismissed for alleged financial irregularities.
The second of the two was dismissed after problems emerged with business transactions he was involved in that were not connected to his work as a garda.
