Senior garda’s domestic dispute referral questioned at tribunal

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

A senior garda’s referral of a domestic dispute complaint to GSOC was questioned at the Charleton Tribunal, reported on 9 October 2017. The complaint concerned allegations that Garda Keith Harrison threatened Marissa Simms with serious harm.

The tribunal heard that the complaint was referred under a provision covering incidents involving death or serious harm, although Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn said her interpretation may have been wrong. She said the referral was made in good faith and denied having malice towards Garda Harrison.

Ms Simms later withdrew her statement, while Garda Harrison had told the tribunal he believed the referral was motivated by malice against him.