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GSOC 'mistaken' in instigating criminal probe into garda who later died by suicide

It follows an investigation into the tragic set of events that saw Sgt Michael Galvin taking his own life in Ballyshannon Garda Station last year.

18/2/2014 GSOC Offices Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

A NEW INQUIRY has found that it was a ‘mistake’ for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) to instigate a criminal investigation into the actions of a garda after the death of a woman in a road crash.

The incident in question happened on New Year’s morning last year (1 January 2015) and saw Sheena Steward knocked down and killed by a minibus.

Following this, on 28 May 2015 the body of Sergeant Michael Galvin was found at Ballyshannon Garda Station.

He had died by suicide.

The report, published in part today and carried out by Mr Justice Clarke, sets out to establish the circumstances that led up to this incident – and determines how justified GSOC were in taking the actions that they did.

The independent inquiry into Sgt Galvin’s death came following a request by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).

What happened? 

In the early hours of New Year’s Day, 33-year-old Sheena Stewart was knocked down and killed by a minibus.

On the night of the incident Sgt Galvin was not meant to be on duty, but had been called in to provide cover.

Around 40 minutes into his shift Galvin was called to a hit and run, and noted that he had seen Stewart standing on a footpath as he made his way to the incident.

It later emerged in CCTV footage that Stewart had been standing on the road near to the footpath, and not on the footpath itself – an anomaly that was genesis of the investigation.

Last year, Galvin family solicitor Gerard O’Donnell stated that the criminal investigation into this had left Galvin in fear that he could be sent to jail or convicted of a criminal offence.

At the time that Galvin took his own life, it had been established by GSOC that – along with a number of other gardaí – he was not culpable of any wrongdoing. However, he was allegedly unaware of this at the time of his death.

What does today’s report tell us?  

Today’s report is significant in that it states that GSOC was “mistaken” in its investigation into the Galvin and other gardaí.

Judge Clarke states that there has been “no suggestion” that GSOC investigating officers were “wrong in reaching the conclusions which they did” and that “the existence of a great tragedy does not, necessarily and in and of itself, mean that there was great wrong”. 

However, in the concluding remarks the report states that the decision by GSOC to instigate a criminal investigation into Galvin and his colleagues was “mistaken”.

It does also note that while the decision to instigate a criminal investigation was mistaken, it would not justify any action being taken against the individuals concerned.

Speaking about today’s report, Tánaiste Francis Fitzgerald said: “Sergeant Galvin’s death was a tragedy for his wife and family, for his Garda colleagues an for his community.”

This week I again met Mrs Galvin, along with her family and solicitor. I know that no words of mine can heal the hurt that so many feel at his loss.

Annual cross border organised crime seminar Tanáiste Frances Fitzgerald Niall Carson / PA Wire Niall Carson / PA Wire / PA Wire

Only part 1 of the report produced by Judge Clarke is being published today.

In her statement Tanáiste Fitzgerald stated that there are a number of legal issue related to the publication of the full report at this stage, with it having the potential to prejudice a pending criminal proceedings.

Responding to the publication of the report, GSOC welcomed the findings of the independent inquiry, and the fact that it had been found that GSOC’s officers had undertaken their duties correctly in relation to the investigation of the road death.

The Ombudsman went on to express its sympathies to both families, and stated that it would be giving consideration over the coming weeks to the any action that should be taken arising from the recommendations in the report.

If you need someone to talk to, contact:

  • Console  1800 247 247 (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)

  • Aware 1890 303 302 (depression, anxiety)

  • Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie - (suicide, self-harm)

  • Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)

  • Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)

Read: Family of garda who took his own life do not want GSOC involved in investigation into his death

Also: GSOC Commissioner Kieran Fitzgerald in a coma after falling onto rocks in Spain

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27 Comments
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    Mute stephen kavanagh
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:12 PM

    I’m glad she’s mixing with all the great thinkers of the day

    356
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    Mute Uncle Monty
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:21 PM

    Bunch of tinkers alright…

    247
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    Mute Duck Knight
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:33 PM

    Smart move by Hillary. Sort out the idiot vote

    228
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    Mute Ryan Anthony
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:36 PM

    Seeing these ***res get pumped up PR wise makes me angry, I’d say I’d be even more so if I had daughters. Whats it teaching them? Don’t be intelligent, don’t work hard, don’t develop yourself don’t have a career plan, just accidentally on purpose release a porn tape of yourself naked taking a hammering from behind for the whole world to see, act dumb, ignorant and light headed, fake date a few famous guys being seen holding their hand on red carpets in front of dumb photographers and you’ll get $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$…do it the other way you can still make it…and be paid $0.70c for every situation where a man makes $1.

    You can even run to become the first female President after decades of hard work and compromise…and then some PR man will tell you that you have to associate with one of the ones who released a tape of herself being jackhammered and acted like a dumb sh111t as part of bringing in the youth vote.

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    Mute stephen kavanagh
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:40 PM

    So right Ryan, I simply wouldn’t bother if I was her, I’d sooner not be President, it smacks of desperation if she thinks that can get her the youth vote, most young people would see through that instantly

    50
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    Mute VinHeffer89
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:46 PM

    Sadly, many, many young people actually won’t see through that, Stephen.

    66
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    Mute stephen kavanagh
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:59 PM

    Maybe not Vin but they still won’t vote for her just because she took a selfie with Kim Kardashian. So she’s lost street cred with those who look down on the Kardashians – a sizeable demographic – without gaining anything in return

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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:06 PM

    Even a broken clock tells the right time twice a day.

    18
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    Mute Jake Race
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:50 PM

    Since when do young people vote?

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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:14 PM

    This will be long forgotten by the time that election rolls around.

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    Mute L-Plate
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:14 PM

    I think we a losing the concept of a selfie. What happened to a good aul photograph?

    82
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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:16 PM

    They may be lacking in the literacy department.

    42
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    Mute GuinnessPower
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:13 PM

    Seriously who cares.

    58
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    Mute LesBehan
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:29 PM

    I only have a vague idea who this is, I was never a big fan of Star Trek.

    56
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    Mute Daniel Dudek Corrigan
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:08 PM

    “Meanwhile, Kris Jenner also managed to get a selfie”

    No, that’s not a selfie…

    52
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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:15 PM

    Hurry up and post the Irish Water article about the lead pipes!!! It’s been on other social media all morning! What’s keeping the Journal??

    46
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    Mute Supernova
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:23 PM

    Everyone I read about the Kardashians or look at pictures of them I just shake my head

    43
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    Mute Jack DaCosta
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:32 PM

    What do Kim Kardashian and Hilary Clinton have in common?
    Answer:
    They’re both 99% false.
    Don’t mention it.

    39
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 8th 2015, 12:33 AM

    They always seem to have new dresses unlike Monica?

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    Mute Andrew English
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:48 PM

    Wow. America is truly f*cked. I would be ashamed if I was American. Imagine having to stoop that low in order to get some publicity. The majority of that aliens followers on Twitter won’t even know who Clinton is. Probably think it’s a selfie before she goes on to the Ellen show.

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    Mute James Reardon
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:54 PM

    exactly, imagine our country voting for a president because she had a photograph taken with a woman famous for being a cum bucket. A good looking cum bucket. but still a cum bucket.

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Aug 7th 2015, 4:55 PM

    The majority of Americans couldn’t give a fiddlers f**k about kardashian or clinton. or what others think of them.

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    Mute Infidel
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:21 PM

    Wow never mind her email scandal or her plummeting poll numbers. The journal has begun it’s fawning extra early!

    35
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    Mute stephen
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:30 PM

    Is there no barrel Clinton won’t scrape?

    32
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    Mute Jack DaCosta
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:41 PM

    ‘Barrel’? (as in oil barrel)
    Subliminal puns.
    Very good Stephen.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 8th 2015, 12:32 AM
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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:25 PM

    Hanging out with Kim Kardashian? Great way to appeal to the braindead

    31
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    Mute Jake Race
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:28 PM

    Sure, but it was all forgotten 3.5 seconds after the event. Kardashian fans don’t have big attention spans.

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    Mute Jake Race
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:33 PM

    Is anyone a little freaked out by by this alliance between the Kardashians and Klintons? What if they join forces with the Ronulans? They could be headed for the neutral zone as we speak!

    28
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    Mute Luke McDermott
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:21 PM

    This assault on the brain still isn’t as bad as the crap spewed by the GOP.

    25
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    Mute Ryan Anthony
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:24 PM

    Gotta love the Dems…they’re so weak and ashamed of being liberals they are willing to vote for anyone the establishment says is ”centrist”. So you have Hillary going about with progressive language and speeches so another 08 does not happen. When she bashes the too big to fail banks who are funding her campaign they respond to the WSJ’s questions with “don’t worry, we know she doesn’t mean it”…seriously they said that.

    You have a candidate faking working for the voters, a special interest group admitting that they’ve basically got the candidate bought and paid for in a major world newspaper…and yet this person is still the absolute front runner, that’s when you know you have a broken system!

    23
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    Mute tk0CXKzL
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:36 PM

    so basically idiots who care about the Kardashians are being influenced to vote for Hillary for no other reason than photos with her. So in a round about way, the Kardashians are influencing the vote as to who could have their finger on the nuclear button. This is how crazzzy the world has become

    22
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    Mute Jake Race
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:27 PM

    Ah crap, now I have to hate Mrs Clinton.

    22
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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:16 PM

    Kim who…… Why demean yourself hanging around with a wannabe

    20
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    Mute Luke Evans
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    Aug 7th 2015, 2:25 PM

    rampant capitalist tr@mps

    16
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    Mute The Guru
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:25 PM

    Made out to be a spur if the moment thing. Sad fact is that this has probably been planned for months and even sadder it will probably have a very positive effect for Hilary.

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    Mute Garwig
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    Aug 7th 2015, 3:32 PM

    Bellends

    12
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    Mute Brian Lenehan
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    Aug 7th 2015, 5:26 PM

    Hang on… Fox News hosted a monster two-part Republican candidates debate last night (which may well determine the future POTUS) and The Journal stages a blackout of it. Instead they publish an article about the probable Democrat nominee getting photos taken with a family of talentless attention-junkies?
    The Journal just doesn’t make sense to me anymore.

    7
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    Mute John Reese
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    Aug 7th 2015, 7:02 PM

    Sadly this is what all young air head voters will care about…what celeb is supporting who.

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Aug 8th 2015, 11:05 AM

    FS.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Aug 8th 2015, 12:30 AM
    1
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