A garda detective who was suspended for more than three years after lending a man a bicycle during the Covid-19 pandemic is set to receive more than €250,000 in damages.
The officer, who had been based in the midlands, initiated a personal injuries claim against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General, reports RTE.
Proceedings before the High Court were resolved nearly two weeks ago under the terms of a confidentiality agreement.
The detective’s home was searched by members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in June 2020 after he loaned a neighbour a bicycle that had been kept at the rear of the garda station, reports RTE.
The bicycle was one of several unclaimed bikes bearing garda PEMS (property exhibit management system) tags and had been stored there for a considerable period.
Before lending the bicycle to the farmer, the garda had notified his superior officer of his intention to do so, reports RTE.
Despite this, he was suspended from his duties, a criminal probe was launched and a file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who decided that no charges should be brought.
The detective, who has more than 30 years of service with An Garda Síochána, remained suspended for a further 15 months before later being cleared in an internal disciplinary process and reinstated, reports RTE.
In total, he was suspended for over three years, from June 2020 until August 2023.
He subsequently initiated legal proceedings against the State, outlining 37 alleged grounds including negligence, breach of duty and breach of contract, such as failing in its duty of care, conducting a search of his home and suspending him without proper justification, reports RTE.
He claimed he suffered serious personal injury and loss, and sought compensation covering matters including loss of earnings, as well as medical and travel expenses.
The State agreed to settle the action and will pay the detective more than €270,000, inclusive of his legal costs, reports RTE.
Neither his solicitor Damien Tansey nor any member of the legal team acting for the detective was available for comment today.
The detective is also pursuing a judicial review against the Garda Commissioner concerning the reduction of his salary while he was on sick leave, reports RTE.
That matter is scheduled to return before the courts next week.
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