A GARDA has been arrested for questioning and suspended from the force following an incident in which he alleged indecently assaulted a young woman in an apparent random street attack.
The incident is alleged to have occurred in Galway city in the early hours of last Wednesday morning.
It is alleged the garda, a man in his 20s, was driving his car close to University College Galway when he saw two young women walking in the area.
The garda is alleged to have got out of his vehicle, gone after the women and groped one of them aggressively. He is then said to have fled the scene but was detained by gardaí a short time later.
Garda sources said the suspect did not know the women concerned.
The Irish Timesunderstands the garda in question was not intoxicated at the time.
“It appears to be effectively a random incident in a public place,” said a source.
The suspect was arrested and questioned about the alleged attack.
The Garda’s criminal investigation is continuing and the women allegedly targeted, who are believed to be students, have been spoken to as part of the case.
Senior officers based at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, referred the matter to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
The commission, which investigates complaints about gardaí from members of the public and alleged Garda wrongdoing, has launched its own inquiry into the matter.
The garda at the centre of the case has been suspended from duty.
He is a probationer garda, meaning he is still in the initial part of his service.
It is anticipated he will remain suspended until the criminal investigation and ombudsman commission investigations into him are concluded.