Internal Garda inquiries into the behaviour of two gardai who knocked down and killed people while driving under the influence of drink have recommended they be dismissed from the force.
The hearings took place last month. Both gardai faced disciplinary charges arising from the incidents in which both fled the scene of the accidents.
Previously both gardai had escaped conviction on serious charges and, having avoided imprisonment, were able to return to work.
One of the officers, Michael Martin, who serves with the Special Branch, faced an internal disciplinary charge of having unauthorised use of a Garda car. He was driving the unmarked car from a social function in Dublin when he knocked down and killed a cyclist, Mr Shane O'Neill, at Newlands Cross just before Christmas 1997. Martin drove on, then abandoned the car a short distance away and walked the rest of the way to his home in Clondalkin. Gardai investigating Mr O'Neill's death found the squad car and traced its use to Martin. He was questioned the following day but made no admission. He was subsequently charged only with leaving the scene of an accident. His case was dealt with before Rathfarnham District Court which imposed a fine and a four-year driving ban. Garda Martin returned to work.
The other officer, Martin Shankey-Smith, killed Mr Alan Jones, a trainee engineer, as he walked along a road near Portarlington, Co Laois, also in December 1997. Garda Shankey-Smith, who had been drinking, also drove away from the scene but returned later and admitted his involvement. He too received a driving ban and fine, after escaping a charge of dangerous driving causing death, and returned to work.
However, internal disciplinary charges, including "discreditable behaviour" as a result of their actions, were made against them. Both sat before disciplinary tribunals led by a chief superintendent and two superintendents. Both men were found guilty of the charges against them and, two weeks ago, the tribunal recommended their dismissal. The two officers can appeal the tribunal sentence to the District Court but senior Garda sources said any appeal would be strongly contested in court. Both men face loss of their State pension rights as a result of the tribunal recommendations.
A third garda who caused the death of a passenger in his car when driving at high speed while drunk is serving a one-year jail term in Portlaoise Prison, where he is held in an isolation wing to prevent attack by other prisoners.
Det Sgt Richard Callaghan caused the death of Ms Ruth Goldsberry, (19) when his car went out of control and struck a building in Camden Street, Dublin, in October 1997. He was dismissed from the force on conviction for dangerous driving causing death last March.