GSOC sends file to DPP concerning alleged financial irregularities at Garda College

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has this week completed an independent public interest criminal investigation into alleged irregularities relating to the handling of EU funds in the Garda College in Templemore.

A file has now been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and a direction from that office is awaited.

The matter was referred to GSOC by then Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan in June 2017 following the identification of financial irregularities during an internal Garda Audit, and their subsequent discussion during hearings of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee.

Relying on its statutory power under Section 102(4) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 to commence investigations in the public interest, GSOC accordingly opened a criminal investigation into the matter, pursuant to Section 98 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.

Owing to the specialist nature of the matter, as well as in light of its connection to the handling of European Union funds, GSOC convened a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency team to conduct the investigation.

Over the course of the investigation this included:

- Five Garda officers, including those with experience with the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the National Economic Crime Bureau. As provided for under the ‘special assistance’ provisions of Section 74 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, these officers were removed from the direction and control of Garda leadership, seconded to GSOC, and placed under the direct authority of GSOC’s Senior Investigator on this case

- Two accountants, seconded from the Revenue Commissioners, with specialisms in fraud investigation

- Specialist legal expertise, including review of the investigative case file.

The GSOC investigation was further required to have regard to, and await the completion of, the separate investigation into the matter by the European Union Anti-Fraud Office, known as OLAF. Cross-jurisdictional engagement with OLAF, and with EU and Belgian authorities, was therefore a significant element in the conduct of this investigation.

The investigation is now concluded, and a file has been sent to the DPP. The DPP is independent in its functions, pursuant to section 2(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act, 1974. GSOC will therefore not be commenting further on the case at present.