Press release
Minister Flanagan publishes report of the inquiry initiated following the tragic death of Sergeant Michael Galvin
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has published the report of the inquiry conducted under section 109 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 by Mr. Justice Frank Clarke of the Supreme Court. The inquiry was initiated following the tragic death of Sergeant Michael Galvin in May 2015. In June 2016, Part 1 of the report was published on the department’s website. A number of legal issues prevented publication of the full report at that time. Those impediments no longer exist and the Minister now considers it appropriate to publish the report with some minor redactions to remove references to an unconnected party.
The report contains a number of recommendations, including the need to review the 2005 Act to address issues related to the scope of inquiries under section 109. It also makes a number of recommendations related to practices and procedures by GSOC concerning how investigations are designated as criminal or disciplinary investigations and the conduct of those investigations.
The Minister wishes to reiterate his thanks to Mr. Justice Clarke for the efficient and sympathetic manner in which he conducted his inquiry. The Minister hopes that Sergeant Galvin’s widow, Ms. Hamill-Galvin, their children and the extended Galvin family can now find some closure and comfort and that Sergeant Galvin’s memory can be honoured as the report is now put fully into the public domain.
The report can be accessed via the following link: Report of The Honourable Mr Justice Frank Clarke concerning an Inquiry pursuant to Section 109 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.
ENDS
In June 2015 the Minister for Justice and Equality initiated an inquiry in accordance with Section 109 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The decision arose following public concern after the tragic death of Sergeant Michael Galvin who had been the subject of a GSOC investigation into Garda interaction with Ms. Sheena Stewart who died because of a road traffic incident on 1 January 2015. Mr. Justice Frank Clarke of the Supreme Court conducted the inquiry.
The report was received in the Department of Justice and Equality on 4 May 2016. Following the advice of the Attorney General, particularly in relation to a prosecution which was pending arising from a road traffic incident on 1 January 2015, the then Tánaiste decided to publish only Part I of the report at that time.
As the prosecution has been concluded, the Minister is publishing the report in full, subject to some minor redactions related to a party who was unconnected to the inquiry.