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If you are directly affected by what you believe is misbehaviour of a member of the Garda Síochána, you can complain to the Garda Ombudsman.Before you start, answer three questions to find out if GSOC is likely to be able to deal with your complaint.
If you are making a complaint on behalf of another person (such as a family member, friend or vulnerable person), you will need to print the consent form and ask them to sign it. Please send the signed form to the Garda Ombudsman by post, or scan it and send it as an e-mail attachment to complaints@gsoc.ie. If the person is unable to give their consent, because of age, or a mental or physical condition, please send us some documentation which explains that instead.
If we do not receive proof of consent or an explanation, we will probably not be able to deal with the complaint.
Call us on 0818 600 800 if you need help filling out the complaint form. Caseworkers are available on the phone every weekday morning. At other times, you can leave a message requesting a call back, or an appointment with a caseworker.
We will need to be able to contact you while we are dealing with your complaint. So please let us know, by e-mailing complaints@gsoc.ie, if your contact details change.
If you are making a complaint on behalf of someone else, please enter your own details, as the person’s representative, here.
If you wish the Garda Ombudsman to correspond with you at a different address to that provided above please tick relevant box.
The legal time limit to make a complaint is up to one year after the incident you are complaining about.
Max 4000 characters.
The Garda Ombudsman can deal with a complaint made outside of the time limit if there is good reason to do so. There are practical reasons for the time limit. The further back in time we go, the more likely it is that evidence e.g. CCTV footage, no longer exists. Equally importantly, with the passage of time it becomes more likely that gardaí complained about will have retired so the Garda Ombudsman may not have jurisdiction over them.
Information such as their name, shoulder number, station, description, car registration.
If your complaint relates to more than one garda, please be clear about the behaviour complained of in relation to each one.
Examples are CCTV or other video showing the incident, witness statements, medical records, or other documentation which supports your allegations.
We will need to gather evidence to support your statement, for example photos of any injuries, or medical records from your doctor or hospital. We will ask for your written permission to access your medical records.
Max 100 characters.
If you have already tried to have this issue dealt with by the Garda Síochána themselves, we will ask them about any actions taken to try to resolve it.
It is a criminal offence to knowingly supply "false or misleading information" to GSOC. You may be prosecuted if it appears that you have done this. This could result in a fine and/or a prison sentence. Please tick the box to show that you have read the above and understand it.*
We must notify the Garda Síochána about all complaints received, by law. If your complaint is investigated, Garda Headquarters and gardaí complained of may be given any of the information submitted here, in the course of the investigation. Subject to Data Protection rules, there is also a possibility that information gathered by GSOC may be given to third parties, for use in other criminal or civil proceedings. Please tick the box to show that you have read the above and understand it.*
