Gardaí investigate alleged assault and theft incidents by new staff at airport

A number of incidents of alleged assault and theft by new staff hired at Dublin Airport for security and crowd management are under investigation by the Garda and airport operator DAA.

A large number of new staff have been recruited, directly and via contractors, recently as passenger numbers have increased as Covid-19 concerns have abated and travel restrictions have been removed. There have been lengthy delays at the airport in recent weeks as the security staff have been bedded in.

The Irish Times understands that in one incident a member of staff hired to help usher crowds through the airport became involved in a fracas with a passenger, whom she knew and was in dispute with over a personal matter.

It is alleged the staff member struck the passenger during the incident. The woman works for a contractor who supplies crowd control staff at the airport. Efforts to contact the firm for comment were not successful.

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However, Garda Headquarters confirmed in reply to queries that an alleged assault was reported last week and under investigation.

Alleged theft

“Gardaí attended the scene of an alleged assault in Dublin Airport on Monday, April 25th, at approximately 6.15pm,” it said. “No persons arrested at this time and investigations ongoing.”

In two other, unrelated, cases recently hired members of airport security personnel were placed under investigation over claims of theft. A laptop was allegedly stolen from a passenger’s carry-on bag while the other incident involved the alleged theft of perfume from a shop on the airport campus.

One of the security staff against whom an allegation of theft was made has since resigned while the other remains in the employment of DAA and under investigation.

“While we don’t comment on individual cases, DAA takes all accusations of theft extremely seriously and will conduct a fair and unbiased investigation into any such incidents,” a DAA spokesman said.

“Any disciplinary action which will follow such investigations, up to and including dismissal, will be proportional to any offence found to have been committed.”