Garda in court over alleged harassment of fellow officer using bananas
A garda has appeared in court over an alleged campaign of harassment against another officer – including with bananas, it has emerged. The Irish Mirror has confirmed that the male garda was charged and made an appearance in front of a judge in recent days over the alleged repeated harassment of a female officer. He was released on bail by a district court and his case was adjourned to a later date. The investigation into the officer has been ongoing for at least 18 months and included allegations that he was aware of the alleged victim's phobia of bananas and used that against her. Garda declined to comment when contacted. A spokesman told us: "An Garda Síochána does not comment on matters before the Courts. An Garda Síochána does not comment on internal disciplinary matters." We have learned that the officer, who is based in a location outside of Leinster, is charged with one count of harassing or stalking the named person, who is herself a garda, on dates between September 2019 and March 2023. The male officer is charged under section 10(1) of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 as substituted by Section 23 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023. Section 23 of that act refers to harassment or stalking and includes examples such as following, watching, monitoring, tracking or spying upon a person; pestering a person and communicating with or about a person. If the case against the male officer stays at the district court, he faces a maximum of a year in prison, as well as a fine of up to €5,000. But if the case goes to the higher circuit court, he faces up to 10 years in prison, as well as a fine. The man was charged after he was arrested by other gardai late last year. Those officers sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who ordered the garda be charged with one offence. The investigation centred on allegations he repeatedly harassed the female officer, including with bananas. It's understood the pair knew each other, but the female officer did not want a relationship with the male officer and he is then alleged to have begun harassing her over a lengthy period. He is alleged to have to have begun pestering the woman by bombarding her with text messages – as well as making derogatory comments to her in front of colleagues. The harassment is also alleged to have ramped up when he became aware of her banana phobia, sources say. Officers investigated claims he left bananas in Garda cars that he knew the female officer would be using – as well as in rooms in the station itself. Sources say other gardai were aware of the situation and were left uncomfortable by his actions. At one stage, a more senior officer brought the garda into an office to carpet him over his alleged behaviour – but bizarrely he had a banana on his head the whole time the dressing down took place. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
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