Ireland GSOC investigates force used in Finglas road traffic arrest
A teenage boy on a scrambler motorbike was arrested by plainclothes and uniformed gardaí after failing to stop at Deanstown Avenue, Finglas, north Dublin, on Saturday 18 September 2021 at approximately 19:55. He was tackled to the ground, handcuffed, and taken to Finglas Garda Station for questioning before being released and referred for consideration for the Youth Diversion Programme. Footage of the arrest, filmed by a bystander from a nearby house, was widely circulated on social media. A garda superintendent referred the matter to GSOC under section 102(1) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, and GSOC is now investigating the level of force used, appealing for witnesses and CCTV, dashcam or mobile device footage.
- Reported21 Sep
3 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A teenage boy on a scrambler motorbike was arrested by plainclothes and uniformed gardaí after failing to stop at Deanstown Avenue, Finglas, north Dublin.
- The teenager was tackled to the ground and handcuffed during the arrest.
- Where
- The incident took place at Deanstown Avenue in the Deanstown housing estate, Finglas, north Dublin.
- When
- The arrest took place at approximately 19:55 on Saturday 18 September 2021.
- Investigation
- A garda superintendent referred the matter to GSOC under section 102(1) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, covering conduct that may have resulted in death or serious harm.
- GSOC is investigating the level of force used by gardaí during the arrest and has appealed for witnesses and CCTV, dashcam or mobile device footage.
- Other details
- A bystander filmed the arrest on a mobile phone from a nearby house and the footage was widely circulated on social media.
- The teenager was released after questioning at Finglas Garda Station and referred for consideration for inclusion in the Youth Diversion Programme.
29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe boy was arrested on a scrambler motorbike by plainclothes and uniformed gardaí after failing to stop in Finglas on Saturday night. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí in Finglas interacted with a motorcycle which failed to stop on 18 September 2021. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe motorcycle failed to stop when Gardaí interacted with it. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe arrest was carried out by plain clothes and uniformed Gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe arrest was over alleged road traffic offences on a scrambler motorbike (irishtimes.com)
- whatA bystander filmed the arrest on a mobile phone from a nearby house (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenager was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by the gardaí present (irishtimes.com)
- whatGarda Headquarters said gardaí in Finglas had interacted with a motorcycle which failed to stop (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe suspect was taken to Finglas Garda station for questioning and subsequently released (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe teenager was detained at Deanstown Ave and brought to Finglas Garda Station. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe teenager was detained at Deanstown Avenue and brought to Finglas Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in the Deanstown housing estate, Finglas, north Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe male teenager was detained at Deanstown Avenue (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident took place on Saturday 18 September 2021 in the Finglas area. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe arrest took place at approximately 19:55 hours on Saturday 18 September 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred at about 7.55pm on Saturday 18 September 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda Ombudsman launched an investigation into the arrest of a teenager in north Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationA garda superintendent referred the matter to GSOC under section 102(1) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGSOC is appealing for witnesses and for CCTV, dashcam or mobile device footage of the incident. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe referral covers matters where conduct of a garda may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGSOC is appealing for witnesses and for CCTV, dashcam or mobile device footage. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGsoc is investigating the level of force used by gardaí during the arrest (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA Garda superintendent referred the matter to Gsoc (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGsoc issued an appeal for witnesses and for CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage (irishtimes.com)
- otherFootage of the arrest was widely circulated on social media. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe teenager was released and referred for consideration for inclusion in the Youth Diversion Programme. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherFootage of the arrest was shared widely on social media. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe teenager was released after the arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe teenager was referred for consideration for inclusion in the Youth Diversion Programme. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Sep2021Gsoc investigates level of force used by gardaí arresting teenager in Finglas
First report of the Gsoc investigation into the arrest; includes details of the incident, the bystander video, the Garda Headquarters response, and the teenager's release and referral to the youth diversion programme.
suspect, teenager, male - 22 Sep2021Viral video prompts investigation into arrest of teenager
Adds that the arrest video went viral on social media, the teenager was released and referred for consideration for the Youth Diversion Programme, a Garda Superintendent referred the matter to GSOC under section 102(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, and GSOC is appealing for witnesses and footage.
suspect, male - 21 Sep2021Garda watchdog probe arrest of Finglas teenager on scrambler bike
Adds that the teenager was released and referred for the Youth Diversion Programme, that a garda superintendent made the referral under s.102, that GSOC is appealing for witnesses and footage, and that the referral covers conduct that may have resulted in death or serious harm.
suspect, male