Gardai and vetting/criminal background checks

aisling0800

A hypothetical but I was wondering what can Gardai actually disclose if someone is Garda vetted or has a criminal background check? Assuming a man has been abusing his wife physically and also has violent thoughts. He reports this to a therapist who breaks confidentiality and reports it to the Gardai. He doesn't get cautioned and a case isn't opened up but it's noted.

Would that come up if he's ever applying for a job or looking to volunteer with children?

phildub

Well im open to correction but that scenario would/should never happen. Therapists can only break confidence if they are concerned for someone's imminent safety. If that was reported to the garda then they would have to investigate it, by law. Where would this be "noted".

Peregrinus

That scenario should never happen, but others could - e.g. someone could be suspected/investigated in relation to child abuse, but never charged because the evidence wasn't considered strong enough. Nevertheless there is a record of the investigation, and of evidence pointing towards the possibility that they are a danger to children.

In most cases this will not be included in any garda vetting report. But if the person applies for a job working with vulnerable children, say, and the guards think information of this kind is relevant, they can disclose it. There is a process which involves them telling you that they propose to do this, and you having an opportunity to challenge the information or the decision to disclose it, and then they make a decision. And if the decision is to disclose the information to the prospective employer and you're not happy with that, you can withdraw your job application and withdraw the vetting request, and then the information will (of course) not be disclosed.