Garda Complaint & Incident Reporting Procedure

Ninjay

I don't want to get into full details for "legal" reasons but the gist is this.

I was rear ended by a car who then tried to run me down when I got out before taking off. I gave chase ringing the Gardai. The offender crashed and could not get out (so I thought). It took 1 HOUR for the Gardai to get to the accident spot despite me telling them the driver was drunk and that he might flee. The Garda station is probably a minute away travelling at speed with lights flashing. Before the Garda got there someone picked up the driver and took off.

When the Garda eventually turned up I asked him if he wanted me to make a statement. He said no. He'd give me a ring. Some hours later he rang to say he had the guy's driver's licence and all I had to do was identify him from his picture. He wasn't on duty when I called in but the other Garda made a note of it and passed it on. I heard nothing from the Gardai and called in some time after and the Garda hummed and hawed a bit and said I'd have to do a formal line up identity or spot the offender on the street and notify him. I said ok. And again I heard nothing from the Garda. I've since called in and rang and have heard nothing from him.

This was MONTHS ago. I've recently heard form the offender's insurance company saying the Gardai in the station involved have no record what so ever of any incident and the offender denies all knowledge (of course he does he was paraletic drunk).

Does anybody know what the procedure for the Gardai is in relation to an incident? Even at the time it struck as me extremely strange that he wouldn't call me into the station etc. To me this is extremely negligent and I would like to report the offending Garda. The fact it took ONE HOUR, he took no statement, never made any contact with me, never returned calls really pissed me off! But now there's no record of it.

Thanks in advance.

Rhonda9000

http://www.gardaombudsman.ie/

Trojan911

As Rhonda9000 entry above, but I would also write down everything from memory to the best of my knowledge, include everything you can recall from the incident, start with Day, Date, Time & Place. If you dialled 999 then there should be an entry recorded.


TJ911...

DublinDilbert

This is quite a serious matter due to the seriousness of the incident, so as the poster above said write all the facts down you know about the case ( dates/times, how many times you went into the station)....

Then go into the station and see speak to a Sargent, explain what happened and ask if he could follow up on whats happening and get back to you. I'd tell him that his insurance will not pay up as there's no official record...

Only if he fails to follow-up on it, would i go to the ombudsman. You'd be surprised when you go in rationally and speak to these guys how good they can be...

Turner

Go to the Superintendent in charge of the station. He will nominate somebody to conduct an investigation of a more senior rank to the Garda.

He is duty bound to also report it to the Garda Ombudsman.

As for it taking an hour to respond. In some garda districts there may be only one patrol car (with either one or two occupants) covering up to 50,000 people. Maybe he was busy, but to be honest he sounds like a lazy ****e!!

Sponge Bob

sounds like the culprit all those months ago was actually one of them notorious Donegal Guards on his way home from their very own tribunal

it would certainly explain the startling lack of paperwork .

Ninjay

I don't want to go into specifics as I said. I will say, the offender was not a "regular" member of the "community" and at the time I said "I betcha nothing will happen to him".

The incident happened on a weekday in a small country town. Not exactly rush hour. I was tossed between two Garda stations. Neither of which seemed to want to handle the case. I rang 4 or 5 times in the hour to see what was going on. I have ALL details noted as I knew at the time it would not be clear cut.

Including a picture of the offending vehicle in the back of the Garda station - 4 DAYS AGO. Dunno how they can explain that! No record of an incident yet a crashed vehicle in the back of their station!

I never bad mouthed the Gardai before and always respected the job they did but I have to say, this has left a VERY sour taste in my mouth!

Sponge Bob

also contact the super in charge of the Traffic Corps in YOUR area and not the local station .

Ninjay

I've been informed that the Garda in question "has left the force under unusal circumstances"!

I suspect the reason being he was either absolutely useless or absolute corrupt!

Our man in Havana

The Garda Ombudsman is your next stop.