A Limerick Garda inspector recently cleared of allegedly snorting cocaine at a bar in the Treaty City four years ago was still waiting for the Garda Commissioner to make a decision on whether his suspension would be lifted allowing him to return to duty after four years sidelined.
A source said Inspector Arthur Ryan, one of Limerick City’s most experienced crime fighters, had been cleared by a Garda internal disciplinary board of any alleged wrongdoing after he appealed an earlier recommendation that he be dismissed.
Inspector Ryan was arrested, along with then Limerick Superintendent Eamon O’Neill, at their respective homes, by detectives attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), on May 15th, 2019.
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Inspector Ryan was questioned on suspicion of ingesting cocaine in the Hurler’s Bar, in Castletroy, on January 9, 2019, which he vehemently denied.
Superintendent O’Neill, since retired, was questioned on an allegation he was in the company of a person taking cocaine in the pub on the night, which he fully denied.
No file was sent to the DPP, and the matter was eventually dropped against Supt O’Neill.
Despite the DPP finding there was no case against Inspector Ryan, this allegation was initially upheld by an internal Garda disciplinary board.
However, he has now been cleared of any alleged wrongdoing after he appealed the Garda board’s original decision.
A source said they expected the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, to lift Inspector Ryan’s suspension but that Garda Headquarters had yet to formally do so.
“(Inspector Ryan) was successful in his appeal, so in theory he should probably be back at work today, but there have been cases before where (Gardai) have had to go through the High Court and they were successful there.
“It’s not over the line yet, but it is certainly a very positive step.”
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