Gardaí say false sex assault claim and disinformation on social media ‘spread fear of foreigners’
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Gardaí said that a false complaint of sexual assault — of which a woman was convicted recently in Waterford — spread “fear and concern” in the community and “dangerous” slurs about asylum seekers and foreign people.
Gardaí also said that the allegation made by Dungarvan woman Tanya Wall created a “campaign of fake news” and that the case “diverted and wasted” garda resources and time from other community policing tasks.
In a statement to the , Garda HQ urged people to independently verify information they read on social media or messaging apps, pointing out that the Dungarvan incident resulted in the circulation of disinformation both nationally and internationally on social media.
A report in Thursday’s 'Waterford News & Star' said that Ms Wall, from Congress Villas in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, was sentenced recently in Waterford Circuit Court to 200 hours of community service for making a false complaint to gardaí. Ms Wall had previously pleaded guilty.
The Courts Service confirmed to the Irish Examiner that the case appeared before Waterford Circuit Court on December 20 and that Ms Wall received 200 hours’ of community service in lieu of 18 months’ imprisonment and that a probation report for her suitability was ordered.
The court heard that Ms Wall presented herself to Dungarvan Garda Station on February 19, 2023, and alleged she had been sexually assaulted.
She said she was walking home alone after a night out and was approached by a number of males who dragged her up a laneway, forcibly took off her belt, and pulled down her jeans.
Ms Wall claimed that the group fled when an unknown woman entered the scene. Ms Wall was later unable to describe this woman to gardaí.
The court heard that gardaí conducted a lengthy investigation into her claim and that on examining CCTV footage uncovered “clear inconsistencies” in her statement.
Gardaí said a post by Ms Wall’s sister on Facebook claimed she had been “attacked by foreigners and they should not be left in the country”.
After the post, gardaí received complaints from concerned locals for their perceived inactivity in addressing crimes by foreign people.
A local “safety group” was set up, which said gardaí were “covering up” the incident.
Gardaí said five weeks of investigation time and resources were “wasted” by the false claim.
Defence counsel for Ms Wall, Sarah-Jane Comerford BL, told the court her client had “severe diabetes”, and that high blood sugar and a high level of intoxication on the night could have led to the episode where she made up the false allegation.
Sentencing, Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the incident “fuelled racial division” and “planted hatred in the community”, causing “alarm and upset”.
He said Ms Wall’s actions resulted in “significant criticism” of gardaí and a “lot of hatred” towards foreign people in Dungarvan.
In a statement, Garda HQ said it noted the conviction at Waterford Circuit Court of a woman for making a false complaint to gardaí:
"This false complaint and subsequent campaign of fake news diverted and wasted Garda resources and time from community engagement and support in the local area.”
It said the organisation has regularly highlighted the rise in the level of misinformation:
“Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, as occurred in this case, is typically amplified by multiple accounts to spread fear and concern in peaceful communities with incorrect and dangerous misconceptions, particularly in relation to international protection and minority groups.”
It added: “An Garda Síochána appeals to all members of the public to independently verify any information that you are reading on social media and/ or messaging apps.”
The statement said gardaí noted that as a direct result of this misinformation campaign a group was established in the local community, with a “misconceived negative perception” of public safety in the area.
The statement said An Garda Síochána was the sole agency invested with the statutory role of preserving peace and public order and to investigate crime and enforce enacted legislation.
“An Garda Síochána quickly, effectively, and correctly investigated this false report,” it said.
“The establishment of local groups in response to such misconceived fear and worry is not advised.
"An Garda Síochána is concerned that, even with the best of intentions there is potential for confrontation between such groups and other persons, confrontations which could result in harm to persons present, including innocent persons guilty of no wrongdoing.”