Gardai Calling Door to Door

aceman67

A neighbours house was broken into and the Gardai called to each house to find out if anyone saw anything that day. The Garda asked me for my name address and phone number even though I was inside my house, finally he asked for my date of birth, which I gave without thinking at the time. Why would they do that. It made me feel afterwards I was under suspicion. I asked other neighbours and they asked them for the same details also. I understand asking name and phone number but why would they need a date of birth other than to check some one out

Witcher

It's so they can narrow down on Pulse who you are, could be a name match...the address they have isn't right etc. and the DOB will help find you. You might not be on Pulse so theyll need those details to add you or your details may be incorrect.

aceman67

aceman67 wrote: »

A neighbours house was broken into and the Gardai called to each house to find out if anyone saw anything that day. The Garda asked me for my name address and phone number even though I was inside my house, finally he asked for my date of birth, which I gave without thinking at the time. Why would they do that. It made me feel afterwards I was under suspicion. I asked other neighbours and they asked them for the same details also. I understand asking name and phone number but why would they need a date of birth other than to check some one out

Date of Birth is a unique identifier. House to house enquiry will be noted on pulse but not details of person unless you saw something of evidential value.

irishrgr

It's called Positive Identification or PID. As stated above, it affirmatively identifies you in the event there is a prosecution. A Guard can't really put in his case files "a fella called Mick who lives on the street saw a person matching the description of the suspect...……..". You'd be laughed out of court, so it would read something like "a witness, Mr. John Murphy, 07/07/1977, who resides at 123 Main Street, saw a person matching the description of the suspect...." Now the veracity of the witness is harder to challenge in court.