Nicholas Keogh’s €300 disciplinary fine upheld on appeal

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

Garda Nicholas Keogh was fined €300 for neglect of duty and was found not to be in breach of a separate discreditable conduct charge, which he denied. He appealed the fine, which Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley upheld.

The disciplinary matters were described at the Disclosures Tribunal before Judge Sean Ryan. The proceedings were reported on 16 October 2019.

The tribunal heard that Keogh was absent without leave from 11 to 14 July 2015, having reported sick and unfit for duty on 9 July. He provided a retrospective sick certificate on 16 July covering those days.

A diary shown to the tribunal contained entries of “awol drink” for 11 and 12 July. Superintendent Patrick Murray said in a statement that Keogh had acknowledged his absence, reported fit for duty while drunk and forgotten he had done so. Keogh said the absence was a mix-up and that he had been sick.

Superintendent Alan Murray imposed the fine. In mitigation, he considered Keogh’s account that he was suffering from work-related stress and drinking heavily. Keogh also disputed the date of a call from Superintendent Patrick Murray, said he had not received disciplinary investigation documents and maintained that he did not knowingly avoid contact with his sergeants.