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Garda officer prosecuted in Ireland for speaking to journalist Garda officer prosecuted in Ireland for speaking to journalist
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A serving Garda superintendent and former head of the Irish police’s press office has been arrested over claims he spoke to a journalist without authorisation. A serving garda superintendent and former head of the Irish police’s press office has been arrested over claims he spoke to a journalist without authorisation.
The officer is being prosecuted under Section 62 of the Garda Síochána Act 2000 which civil liberties groups have criticised as draconian and designed to gag the media in Ireland.The officer is being prosecuted under Section 62 of the Garda Síochána Act 2000 which civil liberties groups have criticised as draconian and designed to gag the media in Ireland.
The superintendent was arrested over claims he unlawfully briefed a journalist about the Garda Síochána’s controversial seizure of two Roma children in October 2013, which the force wrongly believed had been abducted from non-Roma families somewhere in Europe.The superintendent was arrested over claims he unlawfully briefed a journalist about the Garda Síochána’s controversial seizure of two Roma children in October 2013, which the force wrongly believed had been abducted from non-Roma families somewhere in Europe.
The two Roma children’s families are currently suing the Irish state over the wrongful removal of each child.The two Roma children’s families are currently suing the Irish state over the wrongful removal of each child.
The children were taken from their families after a wholly incorrect rumour started on Facebook that because they had blonde hair they did not belong to their Roma parents. The rumour was started after a controversy in Greece over a blonde-haired child who was being looked after by a Roma family.The children were taken from their families after a wholly incorrect rumour started on Facebook that because they had blonde hair they did not belong to their Roma parents. The rumour was started after a controversy in Greece over a blonde-haired child who was being looked after by a Roma family.
The Garda officer held a senior position in the force’s press office at the time of the controversy and his supporters have told the Guardian that he believed he had lawfully briefed a journalist about the errors made by officers to forcibly remove the Roma children. The garda officer held a senior position in the force’s press office at the time of the controversy and his supporters have told the Guardian that he believed he had lawfully briefed a journalist about the errors made by officers to forcibly remove the Roma children.
If convicted of breaching Section 62 of the Garda Siochana Act he could face up to seven years in jail and lose his pension. If convicted of breaching Section 62 of the Garda Síochána Act he could face up to seven years in jail and lose his pension.
He was arrested after he arrived at a Co Dublin garda station by appointment at 7.30am this morning. He has been suspended from duty by the head of the force, Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan. He was arrested after he arrived at a Co Dublin garda station by appointment at 7.30am this morning. He has been suspended from duty by the head of the force, garda commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan.
The investigation is being led by a chief superintendent and a detective superintendent based in a Dublin city centre Garda station. The investigation is being led by a chief superintendent and a detective superintendent based in a Dublin city centre garda station.
The Garda press office in Dublin would neither confirm nor deny the officer’s arrest. The garda press office in Dublin would neither confirm nor deny the officer’s arrest.
Journalists working in the Irish Republic alongside civil liberties organisations have criticised Section 62 and have claimed it is designed to prevent whistleblowing within the force.Journalists working in the Irish Republic alongside civil liberties organisations have criticised Section 62 and have claimed it is designed to prevent whistleblowing within the force.
Reporters have claimed there is now a climate of fear among Garda rank and file, and officers to speak out to the media about any controversies or wrong-doings within the Irish police force. Reporters have claimed there is now a climate of fear among garda rank and file, and officers to speak out to the media about any controversies or wrong-doings within the Irish police force.
A number of investigative journalists told the Guardian last year that they believed senior command within the Garda ordered searches of their phone records in order to track potential telephone or mobile traffic between reporters and members of the force. A number of investigative journalists told the Guardian last year that they believed senior command within the garda ordered searches of their phone records in order to track potential telephone or mobile traffic between reporters and members of the force.
Several of these journalists have lodged complaints with the police watchdog body, the Garda Ombudsman. Several of these journalists have lodged complaints with the police watchdog body, the garda ombudsman.