Garda (Irish police officer) shared photo of naked and distressed journalist

[Taytocrisps]

Just sharing a story in the headlines today in Ireland.

Dara Quigley (a journalist) was captured on CCTV walking naked in a distressed state in April 2017. Her arrest was caught on CCTV. The footage was filmed by a Garda (police officer) on his mobile phone and shared with another person who was not a Garda. The photo was uploaded to social media and shared before being removed at the request of the Gardaí. Dara's semi-clothed body was found in a lake a few days later. She died by drowning. Dara was aware of the footage in the days before her death. The Garda in question resigned from the force before a disciplinary process was complete.

www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/minister-for-justice-apologises-to-mother-of-dara-quigley-1.4692721

Oh that poor woman. This just never ends, does it?

I left out one important sentence in my summary of the story - the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not recommend prosecution of the Garda.

@Taytocrisps

I left out one important sentence in my summary of the story - the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not recommend prosecution of the Garda.

I presume this is because the Garda officer has already resigned

Disgusting story. That poor woman & her poor family.

That is dreadful. I'm just so angry all the time - every single day something else comes out about the sheer contempt some men have for women.

I wish I could say this surprised me but I've said it before and I'll say it again. The police, no matter in what country, suffer from having a scarily high number of people who have been attracted to the profession because they are controlling, abusive, and love the feeling of having power and who absolutely abuse that in any way they can.

And those not actually doing it participate in the awful 'banter' around acts of abuse by police officers.

And those that don't behave that way rarely challenge it. (And those and their families are the ones that scream about how fantastic the police are in all things at all times and shut up everyone don't dare say anything about it or you're personally attacking us and want us to diiiiiiiiie 🙄)

And those few that do report and try to make a difference get turned on because they've broken some sort of code and find themselves turned on, abused, sacked while perpetrators are protected. Which makes those who would want to report not dare to.

And it's all because those in control do not want to accept or admit that police forces have a lot wrong with them and the culture is toxic.

Jclm-

Surely if it's a criminal prosecution (rather than a work tribunal) whether he has quit or not is beside the point?

Assuming he broke the law(public prosecution considering it means he must have) then it's just arrest trial etc surely.

NiceGerbil

Yes, you're correct that his resignation & the Garda disciplinary process is irrelevant to him being charged

However the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions is to decide if a prosecution is warranted, sufficient evidence exists and / or public interest will be served. On any / all of those criteria, the DPP has presumably decided it didn't meet the threshold, unfortunately.

I wish I could say this surprised me but I've said it before and I'll say it again. The police, no matter in what country, suffer from having a scarily high number of people who have been attracted to the profession because they are controlling, abusive, and love the feeling of having power and who absolutely abuse that in any way they can.

Completely agree. Almost all the people I’ve known who went into the police (or NHS) were the last people I’d want in these jobs. It’s made me lose faith in public services. I’ve seen other people post similar sentiments as well.

Earrings-

It says 'The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not recommend prosecution of the garda, who resigned from the force before a disciplinary process was complete.'

They did not say their decision was because it didn't meet the threshold.

I know you said presumably but that's an assumption really I think.

That poor woman. All those involved in sharing the video should be prosecuted.

I just read about that last week. Absolutely shocking that someone would think that was ok to do and for everyone on social media to see her in her most vulnerable distressed state. She would be alive today if she got the help she needed. That guard needs to be given a prison sentence so it deters others from doing the same. Shocking that people are so cruel and mean. So sad for her family.