Golfers urged to come forward after allegation boys were assaulted by gardaí

Golfers playing on a Dublin course late last week are being urged by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) to come forward as potential witnesses after allegations were made that gardaí assaulted three young boys.

The children, who are aged 12 and 13, have made allegations they were assaulted during an incident with three gardaí at Sillogue Park golf club, Ballymun, last Friday.

While the three gardaí who were at the scene have denied anything untoward took place, an investigation into the allegations has begun.

A senior Garda officer referred the matter to Gsoc, a watchdog agency independent of the Garda and which investigates complaints about members of the force. The Garda is obliged by law to refer some matters to Gsoc, including any incident when it is alleged a person came to harm at or around the time they interacted with members of the force.

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The allegation of assault has arisen from what Gsoc described as an “incident” with the boys at the golf club between about 5pm and 6pm last Friday. The Garda ombudsman is now asking any players who were on the course at the time to come forward as they may have witness testimony to give to investigators.

“Gsoc would like to hear from any potential players who may have witnessed or captured the incident on mobile footage,” the ombudsman commission said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Gsoc added that he “incident” occurred between the three male boys and three plain-clothes Garda members. It confirmed the matter had been referred to it by a Garda superintendent. It was referred under a section of the Garda Síochána Act that “mandates” the force to refer any matters that “appear to… indicate the conduct of a member or members of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person”.