Tom Quinn wins High Court case over promotion delay after dog shooting

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

Tom Quinn won his High Court challenge over the delayed promotion after the dog shooting. On 25 April 2022, Mr Justice Charles Meenan said he was making orders in Quinn’s favour, including one quashing the Commissioner’s refusal to backdate his promotion to inspector, and directed the Commissioner to pay his legal costs.

Quinn’s promotion was held up for seven months while the Garda Ombudsman investigated allegations arising from a December 2018 shooting. The court said the complaint was deemed false, and the investigation found Quinn had discharged his firearm lawfully and justifiably.

The judge said the Commissioner’s refusal was unreasonable, given those findings, and would penalise Quinn for false accusations. The judgment records that the promotion delay cost him salary and standing.