Office of the Police Ombudsman, also known as Fiosrú – Oifig an Ombudsman An Póilíneachta
The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 provided for the establishment of Fiosrú, Office of the Police Ombudsman. The Act was commenced on 02 April 2025. Fiosrú, is the independent statutory body which deals with complaints from the public where they have concerns about how they have been treated by Gardaí, and was previously known as the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC)
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, still continues in being but since the 02 April 2025 is now known as Fiosrú, Office of the Police Ombudsman. Any investigations that had been commenced by GSOC prior to the establishment of Fiosrú, will continue to be investigated by Fiosrú under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.
Police Ombudsman
The Police Ombudsman is a role created under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, to lead Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman. The Police Ombudsman is appointed by the President and is accountable to the Oireachtas for the discharge of their functions. The Police Ombudsman has specific powers under the legislation, which may be delegated to officers of Fiosrú to enable them to carry out investigations and other work. The President appointed Ms Emily Logan as Ireland's first Police Ombudsman on 02 April 2025.
Garda Inspectorate
The Garda Inspectorate was a public body established by the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 with the objective to ensure that the resources available to An Garda Síochána were used to achieve the highest levels of effectiveness and efficiency in its operation and administration. It did this by carrying out inspections or enquiries on the operation and/or administration of the Garda Síochána. The body was dissolved under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024 and its functions transferred to the Policing and Community Safety Authority.
Policing and Community Safety Authority
The Policing and Community Safety Authority was established on 2 April 2025, following the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety (PSCS) Act 2024.
The core objective of the Policing and Community Safety Authority is to oversee and assess the performance of An Garda Síochána in relation to policing services, in an independent and transparent manner. It is a successor organisation to the Policing Authority and Garda Síochána Inspectorate taking on most of their existing functions.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
The Director of Public Prosecutions. Following a Fiosrú investigation, if the Police Ombudsman believes that there may be evidence of a criminal offence, a file is sent to the DPP and the DPP will make a decision on whether or not to prosecute.
The Admissibility Process
All complaints to Fiosrú have to be assessed against the criteria set out under section 198 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024 to decide whether they can be "admitted" to be dealt with or not.
If a complaint is determined by Fiosrú to be admissible, the complaint will then either be considered suitable for resolution by An Garda Síochána or the complaint warrants an investigation by Fiosrú.
Resolution
Resolution is the process by which complaints admitted by Fiosrú, and which fall within a list of complaints approved by the Minister, are referred back to An Garda Síochána where it is processed in accordance with the relevant arrangements for handling complaints suitable for resolution by An Garda Síochána.
Investigation
If your complaint is investigated by Fiosrú the complaint may be investigated as either:
- A Criminal matter
- A Non-Criminal Matter
Or
- A Hybrid investigation, which means the complaint may contain aspects that are considered Criminal and Non-Criminal
Following an investigation, a report will be provided to the Police Ombudsman. If the Police Ombudsman is of the opinion that the report discloses an act or omission that may constitute an offence by a member of garda personnel, the Police Ombudsman shall send a copy of the report and the investigation file to the DPP together with any recommendations that appear to the Police Ombudsman to be appropriate.
If the Police Ombudsman is of the opinion that the report discloses a matter that should be dealt with:
- By way of conduct proceedings
- By way of performance proceedings
- Under any other arrangements by or under which the unsatisfactory performance of a member of Garda personnel is dealt with by An Garda Síochána.
If the Police Ombudsman, is of the opinion that the report raises a concern in relation to the practices, policies or procedures of An Garda Síochána or any other issue of a general or systemic nature in relation to An Garda Síochána, The Police Ombudsman shall provide a copy of that report to the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice or the Policing and Community Safety Authority as appropriate and with such recommendations as they consider appropriate.
Duty to keep certain persons informed
The Police Ombudsman is obliged to provide certain parties to a complaint, including the complainant, with sufficient information to keep them informed of the progress and results of an investigation.
Power to discontinue an investigation
The Police Ombudsman may decide at any time to direct that an investigation of a complaint be discontinued where:
(a) the Police Ombudsman is of the opinion that-
- The complaint is frivolous
- The complainant has withdrawn the complaint
- The complainant has disengaged from the complaints process
- The complaint is vexatious
- The complaint was made in the knowledge that it was false or misleading
- Further investigation is not necessary, reasonably practicable or proportionate having regard to all the circumstances
- Continuing with the investigation would interfere, or conflict, with the functions of another public body, including An Garda Síochána, or
- Continuing with the investigation would interfere with legal proceedings before a court or tribunal in the State.
Or
(b) The complaint has been resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant.
Designated Officer and Senior Designated Officer
Designated Officers and Senior Designated Officers- are Fiosrú officers designated in writing by the Police Ombudsman to deal with complaints, investigations, and other matters in accordance with Part 6 of the Act.
Offence of providing false or misleading information
Section 226 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 sets out the offence of providing false or misleading information by a person in relation to a complaint or investigation to the Police Ombudsman. If the person is found guilty of the offence, the person is liable, on summary conviction, to a class C fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both.
Incident of concern
The Garda Commissioner may notify the Police Ombudsman of incidents where it is alleged that a garda may have committed a criminal offence, or behaved in a manner which constitutes notifiable misconduct (that is, a serious breach of discipline). These allegations may be investigated by An Garda Síochána and the Police Ombudsman may seek information on the progress and outcome of the investigation. In cases where it is alleged that a criminal offence may have been committed, the Police Ombudsman may decide to commence their own investigation.
Out of time
A complaint made more than twelve months after the matter complained of is described may be considered ‘out of time’. This complaint will not be admitted, unless the Police Ombudsman decides that you have a good reason for not making the complaint within a year of the incident concerned.
Review
When a complaint is determined to be inadmissible, or a direction has been made that the investigation of a complaint is to be discontinued, the Complainant may, within the period of 28 days beginning on the date the notification is received by the Complainant, request the Police Ombudsman to review the determination or direction, as the case may be. An extension of the time period of 28 days may be considered by the Police Ombudsman, if there is good reason to so.
Public interest investigation
The Police Ombudsman may investigate certain matters in relation to the conduct of gardaí, when it is in the public interest, even if a complaint has not been received. The Police Ombudsman may decide to open such an investigation itself, or may be requested to do so by the Minister for Justice, the Policing and Community Safety Authority, or by the Garda Commissioner.
Referral
The Garda Síochána must refer to Fiosrú any incident where death or serious harm has occurred, and where there is a possibility that it may have resulted from the conduct of a member of garda personnel. This is so the facts of what happened can be established independently and objectively by a Fiosrú investigation.
The Act
The principal act or piece of legislation governing the functioning of Fiosrú is the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024.