A former Assistant Garda Commissioner who was awarded damages after he was suspended by the Garda Commissioner in the year he was due to retire has donated a substantial amount of the money to charity.
Fintan Fanning, who is now studying to become a deacon in the Catholic Church, received damages and legal fees estimated to have cost the State around €250,000.
He was suspended by Drew Harris and removed from his position in January 2019 as Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Eastern Region after GSOC began an investigation into allegations made by another garda in a protected disclosure.
He was reinstated the following month after he took his case to the High Court and GSOC subsequently wrote to the Commissioner informing him that Assistant Commissioner Fanning was no longer the subject of a criminal investigation.
The High Court heard at the time that the Garda Commissioner told Assistant Commissioner Fanning that because of the GSOC criminal investigation in respect of an allegation of misconduct in public office there was no alternative but to suspend him.
The case was listed in the High Court for 4 March last.
However, a settlement was agreed following negotiations between both parties which includes damages and legal costs.
The settlement includes a non-disclosure agreement which means the details in relation to the use of public money cannot be disclosed.
Mr Fanning, who was represented by a solicitor, barrister and senior counsel, has declined to comment on the case which was first reported today in The Sunday Times.
RTÉ News has learned that he has donated a substantial amount of the damages received to local and homeless charities.
He is studying to become a deacon in the Catholic Church, which permits him to minister baptism, marriage and funeral liturgies.
Garda Headquarters said today that "without commenting on or confirming any specific matter, in general, where there is a confidentiality arrangement then as per the stated nature of such arrangements there is a preclusion on commenting on such matters".
The Garda Representative Association has strongly criticised the Garda Commissioner's policy on discipline and suspension.
It says too many gardaí are being suspended for too long and often on "spurious" grounds.
The decision to suspend for four years a garda who loaned a farmer an unclaimed bicycle during the pandemic caused widespread public concern.
The garda has since been reinstated and Drew Harris subsequently said he recognised how difficult it must have been for the garda and his family and wanted to see what lessons could be learned.
The State also settled another case last year with another senior garda officer who challenged his suspension by Commissioner Harris.
No details of the settlement between the former Chief Superintendent Pat Diskin and the Commissioner, the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice were revealed.
At least two other serving and former gardaí are also taking cases to the High Court challenging their suspensions by Commissioner Drew Harris.
