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MAY 12 2022
A STAR IS BORN
GSOC probe Kilrush Garda car incident
Young boy was treated at hospital PÁRAIC McMAHON
paraic@clareecho.ie
A Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Ann Norton, honours Ennis RFC star Alana McInerney on being selected to the Irish Women’s Rugby squad at a special mayoral reception held last Friday
N INCIDENT in Kilrush has been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) after a young boy was allegedly knocked down by an official Garda vehicle. During a search operation at a residence in John Paul Estate in Kilrush, a single vehicle road traffic collision occurred which involved a young boy in Sycamore Drive. The Clare Echo understands the incident happened as an on-duty Garda vehicle prepared to carry out the operation. The boy was taken to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) to be treated for injuries. A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána has
confirmed that the matter has been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) “as a matter of course”. GSOC or the Garda Ombudsman is the independent, statutory agency that deals with complaints from the general public about members of An Garda Síochána. It was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Ombudsman replaced the Garda Síochána Complaints Board from May 2007, but has a substantially expanded role. Retired Chief Superintendent of the Clare Garda Division, John Kerin in 2016 criticised the process whereby Gardaí have to investigate each other when complaints relating to garda discipline are made to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. He said he was aware of incidents where false allegations were made to GSOC against members of the force in the county. FOR MORE pg 4