Garda management 'shamelessly failed' Longford Inspector Tom Quinn

Longford Senator Joe Flaherty has called on An Garda Síochána ‘to make an apology to Inspector Tom Quinn’, saying management of the organisation ‘shamelessly failed’ him.

​Longford Circuit Court recently heard harrowing evidence as Garda Inspector Tom Quinn told how he feared for his life when a German shepherd dog was set upon him.

Edward 'Blondie' Stokes (35) was jailed for his role in the dog attack on Insp Quinn in Ferriskill, Granard, in 2018.

Senator Flaherty outlined how a video - which Judge Kenneth Connolly described as ‘distorted’ - went viral following the incident causing Inspector Quinn's family genuine and serious distress. “The video and subsequent media coverage was accompanied by horrible and vicious commentary.”

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The video is still available and Senator Flaherty commented, “I would have expected that, at the very least, An Garda Síochána management would have pursued and ensured the removal of this video from all channels.”

The court heard former Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, failed to make contact with Insp Quinn and refused to sign his promotion warrant in December 2018.

Senator Flaherty said, “It was as if Harris had formed a decision that the then-Sergeant Quinn was in the wrong. Even after he was cleared by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, of any wrongdoing, his calls to human resources about his promotion went unanswered.

“When he was eventually and rightly promoted in August 2019, he sought to have that promotion backdated as it was having an adverse effect on his pay, pension and future promotion opportunities.

"Having unsuccessfully tried to resolve the issue through all channels, he had no option but to take the matter to the High Court. That court subsequently said that, given GSOC's findings, not backdating the promotion would wrongly penalise the inspector over what amounted to false accusations against him.”

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Speaking in the Seanad, Mr Flaherty added, “This officer was failed by An Garda Síochána management and at the very least deserves an apology from An Garda Síochána. The inspector has been on a panel for promotion to superintendent.

“However, prior to his High Court action the panel was cut short of where he was placed, and he has since applied twice for promotion but has not been selected.

“I take heart from his comments that he does not think the current Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, would have allowed the situation to be handled so badly.”