Suspended for six years: Two Limerick gardaí cleared and reinstated
Two gardaí who were suspended six years ago, arising out of a Garda investigation into alleged unlawful squaring of fixed charge penalty points, had their suspensions lifted on Thursday.
The two gardaí, who were attached to the Limerick Garda Division, were contacted by Garda Headquarters today and informed they had no case to answer and would be reinstated in the force if they so wished.
The two gardaí were suspended in November 2020 and remained in limbo for the past six years, and had consistently maintained their innocence.
Lawyers for the two gardaí previously made a High Court application seeking their suspensions be lifted as they were not charged with any criminal offence and there appeared to be no resolution.
Neither of the two gardaí was ever charged with any offences arising out of the investigation led by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI).
When asked for comment tonight, a garda press officer replied: “Today, 12th February 2026, suspensions against 2 members of An Garda Síochána in the Southern region were lifted.”
“An Garda Síochána is not providing any further comment on internal conduct investigations,” added the Garda Press Officer.
One of the two gardaí was seriously injured in the line of duty when a criminal rammed into a garda patrol car.
A statement issued by Frank Thornton, Garda Representative Association Limerick said: “We have fought these suspensions from the very beginning on the 7th November 2020, and they have been a gross mis-justice for both members.”
“We have consistently made representations with Garda management highlighting the unjust nature of these suspensions, and the members were left with no choice but to seek relief from the High Court, proceedings which are ongoing.”
“Thankfully, today Garda management has reinstated these members, and we now begin the process of recovery from what has been a truly devastating and painful five years for these members and their families.”
Some 130 gardaí in the southern region were interviewed by the GNBCI as part of the probe.
Four serving gardaí and a retired garda superintendent, who were also suspended and charged arising out of the same GNBCI probe, were acquitted by a jury last month following a nine-week trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
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The five who were accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice, including retired superintendent Eamon O’Neill, his wife Garda Anne Marie Hassett, Ennis, Co Clare; Sergeant Michelle Leahy, Roxboro Road, Limerick; Garda Tom McGlinchey, Doon, Co Limerick; and Garda Com Geary, Ennis, Co Clare, had all denied the charges.
Mr O’Neill and Ms Hassett have initiated legal proceedings against the force for damages arising out of their arrests for crimes they were found not guilty of.
Immediately following their trial, the Garda Commissioner lifted the suspensions of the four serving members.
Mr O’Neill, who was described by witnesses during the trial as one of the most dedicated gardaí in the country, and who had helped bust criminal gangs in Limerick that murdered 23 people, has retired from the force.
