TWO LIMERICK GARDAÍ who have been suspended for more than five years despite being cleared by state prosecutors of any wrongdoing have been reinstated to work this evening. 

The two Roads Policing Unit gardaí had been suspended after they were identified by detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI). It now means that six gardaí have had their suspensions lifted in the probe. 

Their case is directly related to the acquittal of four serving gardaí and a retired garda superintendent who were cleared in a Limerick court of perverting the course of justice after a six year long investigation and eight week trial.

Sources have said the two gardaí were part of the investigation file but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had refused to direct a charge in their case because they had not committed any criminal offence. 

The garda organisation continued to suspend them with the most recent renewal of that measure on the night a jury cleared the other officers and the retired superintendent of any wrongdoing after an eight-week trial. 

The case centred around the termination of road traffic tickets after requests by members of the public to gardaí not to issue fines. Defence successfully argued that the gardaí were using their power of discretion to halt minor prosecutions. 

It is understood the two gardaí had been due to appear at a High Court case in March challenging their suspension. One of the gardaí had been badly injured in a ramming incident by a stolen car and was out sick when his suspension began. He remains dealing with injuries associated with that incident.

Niall Collins, Minister of State in Justice, who is a TD in Limerick, welcomed news of the lifting of the suspension. 

“This is the right decision and will be well received by the local Garda community and the wider public across Limerick. We want to see as many of our Gardai as possible actively working to keep our communities safe,” he said. 

Limerick Garda Representative Association representative Frank Thornton, also welcomed the reinstatement. 

“We have fought these suspensions from the very beginning on the 7 November 2020, are they have been a gross mis justice for both members.

“We have consistently made representations with Garda Management highlighting the unjust nature of these suspensions and the Members were left with no choice but to seek relief from the High Court, proceedings which are ongoing, thankfully today Garda Management have reinstated these members, and we now begin the process of recovery from what has been a truly devastating and painful 5 years for these members and their families,” he said. 

GRA solicitor Elizabeth Hughes welcomed “this positive, but overdue, development and will now assess the implications of same.”

Since the verdict it is understood that high level talks have been taking place with representations being made by senior politicians and officials.

A meeting was also held in recent weeks in Garda Headquarters of senior management, including the Commissioner, to consider the best course of action following the Limerick acquittal. 

Following questions in the Dáil by Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe, Taoiseach Micheál Martin on 29 January called for a review into the case which was led by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI).

“It seems that a review of what transpired needs to happen because it impacted Garda morale more broadly and had a significant negative impact on the careers of the five gardaí and, as the Deputy stated, of others as well,” the Taoiseach said at the time. 

Last week Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said they disagreed that an enquiry or review was needed into the conduct of the investigation by the NBCI. 

A garda spokeswoman confirmed the lifting of the suspensions tonight: “Today suspensions against two members of An Garda Síochána in the Southern region were lifted.

“An Garda Síochána is not providing any further comment on internal conduct investigations.”