We heard harrowing evidence at Longford Court last week as Garda Inspector Tom Quinn told how he feared for his life when a German shepherd was set upon him. He is a Garda of outstanding character, with an unblemished record, who has since endured an agonising eight years as a consequence of what happened that evening. Within minutes of the attack, which ultimately saw the garda produce and fire his service weapon in order to save his own life, a video went viral. It was widely shared on social media and caused Inspector Quinn's family genuine and serious distress. The video and subsequent media coverage was accompanied by horrible and vicious commentary. Inspector Quinn was the subject of threats and was forced to take his children from the family home for a number of weeks. That video is still available to be seen across multiple social media forums. His children recently told him that they have seen it for themselves. I would have expected that, at the very least, An Garda Síochána management would have pursued and ensured the removal of this video from all channels.

In the aftermath, the assistant commissioner for the western region visited Inspector Quinn and gave certain assurances that he had acted properly and the organisation would protect him. Sadly, Inspector Quinn's experience has been quite the opposite. He was very critical of the former Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, for failing to make contact with him and refusing to sign his promotion warrant in December 2018. It was as if Harris had formed a decision that the then-Sergeant Quinn was in the wrong. Even after he was cleared by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, of any wrongdoing, his calls to human resources about his promotion went unanswered. When he was eventually and rightly promoted in August 2019, he sought to have that promotion backdated as it was having an adverse effect on his pay, pension and future promotion opportunities. Having unsuccessfully tried to resolve the issue through all channels, he had no option but to take the matter to the High Court. That court subsequently said that, given GSOC's findings, not backdating the promotion would wrongly penalise the inspector over what amounted to false accusations against him.

This officer was failed by An Garda Síochána management and at the very least deserves an apology from An Garda Síochána. The inspector has been on a panel for promotion to superintendent. However, prior to his High Court action the panel was cut short of where he was placed, and he has since applied twice for promotion but has not been selected. I take heart from his comments that he does not think the current Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, would have allowed the situation to be handled so badly.

We need to have confidence and a genuine belief in the absolute integrity and commitment of An Garda Síochána. Equally, serving members must feel that they have the absolute support, backing and loyalty of management. In this regard, I fear Inspector Quinn was shamelessly failed. The public genuinely needs to see this acknowledged and, as I said, An Garda Síochána needs to make an apology to Inspector Quinn.