A Dublin traffic garda was arrested for the second time yesterday by detectives investigating allegations of bribery to drop driving charges.
It is understood that yesterday's arrest followed the discovery of a document relating to an arrest for drink-driving a year ago. The same garda was arrested two days before Christmas after a south Dublin builder alleged he was asked for a bribe to have a drink-driving charge dropped.
Yesterday morning the garda was arrested and taken to Sundrive Road station where he was held under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was placed in front of an identity parade in the afternoon by detectives investigating the second allegation of bribery. He was released last evening.
Detectives investigating the allegations of dropping driving charges, known in Garda parlance as "squaring", have questioned several other gardai. Three other members of the same traffic unit have been transferred pending the outcome of the investigation, although allegations have not been made against them.
The detectives have also seized the station register, or "book", in which all traffic offences are supposed to be lodged.
The first allegation made against the garda was that he sought a substantial cash payment for "squaring" a drink-driving offence after the builder was arrested while driving from a public house in south Dublin in May last year.
The alleged offence for which the garda was again arrested concerns a claim that he was given an expensive golf club.