It's emerged Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has paid a six-figure sum to settle a legal action taken by a retired Donegal senior officer who alleged he was defamed on the internal garda Pulse system.
The Commissioner is believed to have authorised the payment plus legal costs to Kevin English, a former superintendent in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Kevin English sued over what he alleged was a false statement about him that was entered on the force's internal crime database in May 2020 by a Garda who worked at the station.
According to the Sunday Independent, the offending Pulse entry related to an allegation of assault against Mr English made by Garda Clement McCormack.
It's said to stem from an incident at Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station in February 2019 following the arrest of a young person at a local disco in connection with a public order offence.
The defamation claim was based on how the entry was worded in the pulse system.
In a statement read to the High Court, the Garda Commissioner accepted the statement on Pulse was “unfounded”.
Drew Harris sanctioned a high five figure sum plus legal costs to Kevin English.
