THE MINISTER FOR Justice has asked the Garda Commissioner to look into the handling of an allegation of embezzlement made against two gardaí in Galway.

In February, independent TD Clare Daly told the Dáil that she was made aware of two people in Galway who alleged that two gardaí embezzled funds totalling €500,000 as part of a property deal in Romania.

Daly had said that the pair had information to show that garda fax machines were used in certain transactions and that complaints were made to the immediate superior of the gardaí in August 2011.

“They reported the crime to the immediate superior of the gardaí, the then Chief Superintendent Ó Cualáin who has since been promoted to the position of acting Deputy Commissioner,” Daly said, adding that the complaint was then handed onto another officer when Ó Cualáin moved.

Having given the garda the option of investigating the matter internally, the individuals found that their complaint was not listened to and they made a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. GSOC decided it could not deal with the case because it was four years old, which is not good enough.

In the Dáil last Thursday, Daly raised the matter again and told Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald that the allegations are now being investigated by Europol.

The minister then confirmed that she has sought a report from Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan.

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