Court of Appeal quashes Garda inquiry proceedings over access to interview notes

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal allowed Garda Keith Harrison’s appeal in part, quashing proceedings of the board of inquiry from November 2023 and remitting the matter to be determined in accordance with the law. It found that refusing him copies of the woman’s interview notes created at least a grave risk that the board would reach a legally unsustainable decision.

The court rejected two other grounds of appeal: that the woman’s withdrawal of her domestic violence complaint reduced the seriousness of the disciplinary allegation, and that Harrison had not received adequate explanations for his continued suspensions. The allegations against him remain disciplinary allegations; the court’s ruling addressed the inquiry’s procedures.