GARDA bosses have launched a major investigation after an armed detective allegedly left a weapon in a busy Dublin city centre store while out shopping.
The garda is believed to have left the firearm in the changing rooms of a Ted Baker shop in Dublin on Monday unattended for a few moments.
It is understood the gun was inadvertently left on the premises for a few minutes before the cop realised their mistake and rushed back to the shop to retrieve it.
The experienced detective, who works in a unit tasked with protecting senior Government ministers, was on duty on the day of the incident, which is now the subject of an internal probe.
According to sources, a staff member spotted the weapon in a changing room after the cop had left the shop and quickly raised the alarm with local gardai.
It is also understood that the armed cop quickly realised their mistake and returned to the store to retrieve the firearm after a short period of time.
Garda Headquarters were immediately notified of the incident and are now carrying out their own inquiries, which are being led by a senior officer.
The garda has been temporarily removed from ministerial duties pending the inquiry into the major security breach.
An insider explained: “This incident took place on Monday. The garda left the weapon in the Ted Baker store on Grafton Street for about three minutes and then came back for it.
“They are part of the personal protection detail for a senior Government minister and would have many years experience, it was just a bad mistake.
“The garda has been removed from protection details and will be on desk duty until it’s resolved.
“Staff from the shop rang but before gardai could even get up there the officer had come back for it.”
A garda spokesperson told The Irish Sun: “A Senior Garda Officer is conducting a disciplinary investigation into this matter.
“As such, An Garda Síochána is not in a position to comment further.”
Currently, all Government ministers receive protection by a trained armed detective, who act as both their driver and close protection officer.
Each cabinet member previously had their own armed detective driver up until 2011, when the financial crisis hit the force resulting in major cutbacks.
The decision was made to remove that protection from most ministers – and detectives in the details section of Garda HQ in Dublin’s Phoenix Park were replaced by civilian drivers.
Previously only the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, Attorney General and Justice Minister received a dedicated garda protection officer.
However, in 2022 this was expanded to include to other members of Cabinet due to an increase in threat levels on them.
Health minister Stephen Donnelly, and ministers Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe, who held the two finance portfolios, had the armed protection reintroduced because of protesters targeting them.
