While out shopping, a garda detective is accused of leaving a handgun in the changing rooms of a Dublin city center store.
Garda Headquarters opens a disciplinary case.
Detective resigned from close protection while the investigation was still ongoing.
Allegedly, on Monday, an armed guard left his gun in the store while shopping.
Garda Headquarters has launched a disciplinary investigation into an incident in which a close protection detective allegedly left their official firearm in a busy Dublin city centre store while out shopping.
The Irish Independent has learned that the detective, who works in a unit tasked with protecting Government ministers, was on duty on the day of the incident this week.
The temporary loss of the handgun is being treated seriously by senior gardaí who are attempting to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the matter.
It’s understood the officer has been stood down from close protection duties while the disciplinary investigation process is ongoing.
Gardai confirmed that a” senior garda officer is conducting a disciplinary investigation into this matter”
It’s understood the armed garda was shopping in Dublin city centre on Monday and, while in one store, used the changing room facilities.
After the garda left the store, a staff member went into the dressing room and discovered a firearm there.
After informing the nearby gardaí of the event, the detective went back to the store to get the gun after realizing it was missing.
The event was reported to Garda Headquarters right after, and they are currently conducting their own investigations.
Sources said that the matter is being treated with extreme seriousness given that an official garda firearm was temporarily misplaced in a busy city centre store.
“Staff noticed the gun and thankfully notified gardaí straight away. The outcome could have been a lot different if the weapon was picked up by the wrong person,” one source said.
Sources said that the matter is being treated with extreme seriousness given that an official garda firearm was temporarily misplaced in a busy city centre store.
“Staff noticed the gun and thankfully notified gardaí straight away. The outcome could have been a lot different if the weapon was picked up by the wrong person,” one source said.
“This will be one aspect looked at. There are protocols around booking in your weapon when tending to personal matters while on your working tour.”
Currently, a trained armed detective serves as both a close security officer and a driver for every government minister.
Previously, the only people who receive garda protection officers were the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Attorney General, and Justice Minister.
But in 2022, when threats against other Cabinet members increased, this was extended to encompass them as well.
A submachine gun was found on a Dublin street in 2018, prompting the Garda watchdog to conduct a public interest investigation into a separate incident involving the temporary loss of an official firearm.
The weapon was found by a member of the public on Harcourt Street that July and later handed in to a garda station.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) found that the weapon had been properly placed in the boot of a garda car which opened as the vehicle exited the garda station onto a ramp.
It ruled in a report the following year that the two gardaí involved should not face sanctions.
