Latest news with #An Garda Síochána
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
George Nkencho inquest to hear from up to 60 witnesses but faces delay until 2026
A full inquest into the fatal shooting of George Nkencho by gardaí outside his home in west Dublin five years ago will not begin before early 2026 after a coroner was informed that her plans to hold it in November might be unrealistic. A brief sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court heard on Monday that around 50-60 witnesses are expected to be called to give evidence at an inquest which is expected to last over two weeks. Advertisement Mr Nkencho (27) suffered fatal gunshot wounds during an incident involving members of the Garda Armed Support Unit outside his family home at Manorfields Drive, Clonee, Co Dublin on December 30th, 2020. Counsel for An Garda Síochána, Ronan Kennedy SC, told the hearing that gardaí had reviewed 252 witness statements and additional material that had been provided to them by the coroner, Myra Cullinane. However, Mr Kennedy said gardaí were still in the process of reviewing other material that had only been received on June 24th including a report of the investigation into Mr Nkencho's death by Fiosrú – previously known as the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission –as well as some media clips. The barrister said there was a body of work still to be undertaken in relation to such documentation about which various stakeholders within An Garda Síochána would need to be consulted. Advertisement Mr Kennedy said gardaí would need several more weeks for that process to be finalised. Dr Cullinane said she was conscious that she had not been able to share such documents to date with Mr Nkencho's family and their legal representatives and wanted to provide them with such material 'at the earliest opportunity.' The coroner restated her intention, which she had made earlier this year, of holding the inquest before the end of 2025. 'I really want to move things along,' said Dr Cullinane. Advertisement The coroner said she also wished to hold a hearing in advance of the full inquest to hear submissions on the scope of her inquiry which she did not believe would be contentious. Dr Cullinane acknowledged that legal representatives would need to consider the relevant documentation to make such submissions. However, Mr Kennedy expressed concern that the issue of the scope of the inquiry might impact on issues relating to privilege over certain documentation. He suggested that the coroner deal with the question of the scope of the inquest at a hearing scheduled for September 12 to update Dr Cullinane on progress in the case. Advertisement However, counsel for the Nkencho family, Seoirse Hennessy BL, said that would be 'putting the cart before the horse.' Dr Culliane agreed that it would not give the victim's relatives the opportunity to form a view in the absence of having considered the documentation. The coroner said she aimed to hear the inquest in November but realised the timeframe was 'tightening all the time.' Mr Kennedy asked Dr Cullinane if she believed that date was realistic given the amount of work still to be undertaken and the possibility that any ruling on the scope of the inquest could have 'a knock-on effect.' Advertisement The coroner replied that she did not wish to raise the expectation of Mr Nkencho's family about the start of the inquest and then disappoint them. 'We won't aim for something that's not possible,' she said. The coroner noted that the inquest would likely last 'a little over two weeks,' even though she believed the evidence of most eyewitnesses was unlikely to be challenged to any significant degree. She adjourned the hearing until September 12th to allow An Garda Síochána to complete its review of documentation before it would be shared with all parties. Dr Culliane said she would also correspond with them in advance of that date to see if they might be in a position to make submission on the scope of the inquest. At the opening of the inquest in June 2021, legal representatives of Mr Nkencho's family called on the coroner to conduct a wide and broad examination of policing issues to consider if his death was linked to racial profiling and discrimination. In reply to concerns raised by Mr Hennessy about jury selection which would normally be arranged by gardaí, the coroner said she was confident that Fiosrú would be able to assemble a representative panel of jurors for the inquest. She also confirmed that Fiosrú had been granted full legal representation for the inquest Addressing members of Mr Nkencho's family at the hearing including his mother, Blessing, Dr Cullinane observed that it was always the case that when she set a date that they 'tend to shift a little further.' However, the coroner said the inquest would not be delayed unduly. Earlier this year, it emerged that an appeal by Mr Nkencho's family against the decision of the DPP that no garda should face prosecution over his death was unsuccessful. The fatal shooting of Mr Nkencho outside his home in west Dublin occurred after a stand-off developed between gardaí and the deceased who was armed with a kitchen knife. The tense situation arose shortly after Mr Nkencho had been involved in an alleged assault of a shop assistant at a nearby Eurospar store. Ireland Bruce Springsteen 'wouldn't be too happy' music us... Read More The young man, whose family come originally from Nigeria, was pronounced dead a short time later at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. Post-mortem results revealed he died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. His family claim he was suffering from mental health issues for several months before his death and that the level of force used against him by gardaí was disproportionate. At a hearing in May 2025, the coroner ruled that two members of the Garda Armed Support Unit involved in the fatal shooting would be given anonymity at the inquest in the interest of their security and 'national security.'
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
New Garda commissioner faces challenge of expanding force as retirements set to rise
Hopes that a surge in departures from An Garda Síochána during the Covid-19 pandemic was part of the 'great resignation' from the workforce appear to have been optimistic. Resignations surged by almost 250 per cent in the four years to 2023 – to 171 – before declining by 20 per cent last year, raising hopes the worrying trend was dissipating. But the latest figures show there were 68 resignations in the first half of this year. That means the pace this year is keeping up with that of last year, when 138 Garda members resigned – opting out before being eligible to retire on a full pension. When the new Garda commissioner is appointed on Tuesday, to succeed Garda Commissioner Drew Harris after seven years in the job, he or she will have another major headache. READ MORE Between 30 and 40 years ago, a recruitment drive was undertaken by the Garda because of the security challenges posed by the Troubles. This generation is now coming to retirement age. It means we are set for a decade-long increase in Garda retirements at the precise time recruitment is sluggish and resignations appear stuck at about 140 per year. It will all impact on Garda numbers and make it harder to provide a quality policing service, from responding to 999 calls to investigating crimes and catching the perpetrators. And yet the Government is continuing to make promises of hiring 1,000 new gardaí per year, increasing the force's strength to 15,000 members and then continuing to expand until it reaches 18,000. [ Garda numbers begin to grow, though 15,000-strong target will take four more years Opens in new window ] The requirement for a 15,000-strong Garda force was first mooted in a submission to Government by then Garda commissioner Noel Conroy 20 years ago, citing population growth and other factors. When Conroy called for 15,000 gardaí, the Republic's population was 4.13 million. It had increased to 5.5 million by April 2023, according to the most recent estimate available from the Central Statistics Office. The force was growing in early 2020, and would likely be at 15,000 by now, or close to it, before the pandemic struck and the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, was forced to close. But since it reopened, with the economy booming, hiring gardaí has proven more difficult. However, Garda Headquarters said numbers in the force have been rising for some time and had reached 14,318. The resignation rate was 'approximately 1 per cent' per year. This compared with up to 10 per cent in some British police forces and 10 to 20 per cent in the private sector. The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents more than 11,000 rank-and-file gardaí, said the drop in resignations last year appears to have been a 'false dawn'. 'Coupled with the fact that almost 1,900 gardaí are eligible to take up retirement over the next three years, it appears that the target of a Garda strength of 15,000-plus is now just a pipe dream,' said GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin. He believed incentives were needed to retain more gardaí, which would also make the force more attractive to potential recruits. It was 'imperative' the new commissioner addressed the issue. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), said in light of population growth, it was clear an 18,000-strong force was needed; a target Harris suggested in the early years of his commissionership. AGSI general secretary Ronan Clogher said gardaí were required to take on a higher workload, which had become acute and was having a 'corrosive' impact. He was 'worried' as resignations were no longer largely confined to young rank-and-file members of the force, with sergeants and inspectors now also leaving to take up other jobs. [ Garda numbers crisis: 'We could lose 30% to 50% of our organisation in five years' Opens in new window ]
Irish Times
22-07-2025
- Irish Times
Motorist left shaken after hitting dummy covered in tomato ketchup on Co Donegal road
Gardaí in Co Donegal are seeking to speak to three young men after a dummy covered with tomato ketchup was placed by the roadside and struck by a passing car. The incident, which happened on the R245 road near Milford at around midnight on Sunday, left a motorist thinking they had hit a person. The motorist got out of their car after the collision and realised they had hit a dummy made using stuffed plastic bags, which was dressed in dark clothing and covered with ketchup. The driver and passenger travelling in the vehicle were left shaken following the bizarre incident, which happened at The Pans, Cranford and resulted in the car being damaged. Garda Gráinne Doherty said the force was 'following a definite line of inquiry in relation to this incident'. She said investigating officers were keen to speak to anyone who may have travelled in the area and who may have observed 'a white car with three young males on board parked up nearby'. 'This car is believed to have been in the area around the time of the collision and then immediately left in the direction of Carrigart.' Anyone who travelled along the route between midnight and 1am on Sunday who has dashcam footage is asked to make it available to An Garda Síochána. 'We are very anxious to progress this investigation and we appeal to the males in question to make contact with gardaí in Milford on 074 9153060.'
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Irish Times
Man arrested in Monaghan as part of global operation targeting human trafficking
A man arrested in Monaghan in early June has been remanded in custody as part of a global operation targeting human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced criminality. The man in his 50s was detained on June 9th at Monaghan Garda station and subsequently charged for Human Trafficking Contrary to Section 4(1) of the Criminal law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008. The man appeared before Monaghan District Court on Wednesday, June 11th where he was remanded in custody and a file is being compiled for the Director of Public Prosecutions . His arrest was carried out as part of Operation Global Chain, an international initiative conducted on June 1st-6th 2025, during which law enforcement partners worldwide, including An Garda Síochána , targeted organised crime groups involved in human trafficking, in particular child trafficking, for financial gain. READ MORE The operation focused on human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced criminality and forced begging. Over the week in early June, gardaí visited 92 suspected brothels in towns and cities across Ireland. They interviewed 179 sex workers with nationalities from Brazil, Romania, Spain, China, Dominican Republic, Poland, Latvia, Colombia, Taiwan, Panama, Czech Republic, Malaysia and Ireland. No victims of human trafficking were detected during the visits. Gardaí also inspected more than 5,400 passengers arriving into Dublin Airport on flights on Thursday, June 5th, and Friday, June 6th. Members of the Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit and the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit were present during these inspections, according to a Garda statement. An Garda Síochána will continue to work closely with Europol and other law enforcement partners to identify victims of human trafficking and also appealed to any potential victims to come forward and speak to them. Any person with information on human trafficking should also contact gardaí and all contact will be treated 'in the utmost confidence', said the statement.
Irish Times
06-05-2025
- Irish Times
More than 3,000 drivers caught speeding over May Bank Holiday weekend
More than 3,000 drivers were detected breaking speed limits by gardaí over the May Bank Holiday weekend with 187 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There were two road deaths over the weekend with six people sustaining severe and life-threatening injuries. A motorcyclist was found to be travelling 129km/h in a 60km/h zone on the Navan Road in Dublin 15 while a driver was detected at 181km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N25 in Ballynamone, Co Kilkenny. More than 270 fixed charge notices were handed out for drivers using mobile phones with more than 340 fines were unaccompanied learner drivers, according to figures provided by gardaí on Tuesday. READ MORE There were 115 fixed charge notices handed out for failure to wear a seat belt. In addition, 147 vehicles were seized from learner permit holders driving unaccompanied and 444 vehicles seized for having no tax or insurance. Gardaí said it conducted more than 1,000 mandatory intoxicant testing (MIT) checkpoints, more than 13,000 breath tests and 280 oral fluid tests carried out. It said an 'extensive' Garda roads policing operation was in place from 7am on Thursday until 7am on Tuesday to ensure road safety during the Bank Holiday weekend. An Garda Síochána said it continues to appeal to all road users to never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to slow down and to always choose a speed that is appropriate to the driving conditions, to wear their seat belt and keep their eyes always on the road.
