Courts / Dublin / Report

Garda who failed to log break when eating cereal brings challenge over transfer

Date
2023-10-09

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In October 2023, Dublin Garda Andrew Dunne filed a High Court challenge after being transferred from community policing to a core policing unit in August 2022. The transfer followed an incident in the Rathmines Garda Station canteen where Dunne, eating cereal, failed to log a 15‑minute break in the Garda Command and Control System. Chief Superintendent Peter Duff, who inspected the station, reported the omission and also noted another Garda's alleged inappropriate conduct. Dunne, who had won a competition to join the Garda Community Policing Service in 2017, was told his community role was "no longer tenable" and reassigned. He claims the decision was unfair, unlawful, and breached Garda Discipline Regulations and his constitutional rights. Represented by Antony Moore SC and James Lawless BL, Dunne seeks orders to quash the transfer and declarations of unlawful, disproportionate, irrational and unreasonable action. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted the case on an ex‑parte basis, with the matter adjourned to November.