Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
File photo of Public Order branch Gardai a beach in Mayo, 2009, during protests over pipelaying at the project.
Mayo
GSOC finds "no evidence" of booze deliveries for gardaí at Shell project
It was alleged last year that a company contracted by Shell supplied alcohol to Belmullet Garda Station.
AN INVESTIGATION HAS found “no evidence” that gardaí in Mayo were supplied with alcohol by a company at the Corrib gas project.
A number of allegations were made in the middle of last year that OSSL, a company that procured materials and services for Shell, had delivered €35,000 worth of alcohol to Belmullet Garda Station in December 2007.
A report published this evening by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) found “no evidence of the purchase or delivery of alcohol to garda stations, nor of any misconduct of garda members”.
It warned that the allegations had the potential to undermine public confidence in the force.
The report claims that the company that was the subject of the report withdrew their cooperation with the investigation once GSOC requested a number of documents such as bank statements and proofs of purchase.
Numerous gardaí were interviewed as part of the investigation.
These ranged from those who were named by the company involved, and also those who were involved with the station in December 2005, December 2006, and December 2007.
“We hope that publicly explaining the proportionate, fair and independent investigation of this matter will promote confidence of members of the public and of the Garda Síochána in police oversight in this country,” the report concludes.
Previously: Allegations of Shell booze bribes for gardaí ‘raise serious concerns’ >
