Case collapses after error in Pulse system

A CRIMINAL trial has collapsed after the State said it could ‘not vouch for the accuracy’ of information recorded on the garda Pulse system relevant to parties involved in the case.

An investigation is to be conducted into the matter, gardaí told the court.

The prosecution stated: ‘It can’t be said (it) is accurate.’

Commenting on the seriousness of the matter, the accused’s barrister said that criminals or suspected criminals were not the only people whose details appeared on Pulse. The barrister added: ‘The ordinary citizens of this country should be terrified in their beds at this development.’ The matter arose after one of the parties in the case disputed the accuracy of personal information recorded on Pulse.

The prosecution said it had emerged that a Pulse ID relating to one of the parties appeared to have ‘merged’ with another person.

Gardaí agreed that it appeared an error on Pulse had been made. And a Garda witness gave evidence that this information appeared to be for a different person.

Asked by the prosecution if gardaí could vouch for its accuracy, the witness responded: ‘No.’ The garda agreed during cross-examination by the accused’s barrister that the personal details of ‘civicminded’ members of the public would appear on Pulse. This included eye-witnesses to road accidents.

Commenting on the impending investigation into the accuracy of the Pulse information, the prosecution said: ‘Lengthy enquiries will have to made’.

It would likely take a number of weeks or months to ‘untangle the (Pulse) records’, the garda said. This will include contacting court personnel, as well as sourcing court orders, charge sheets, and contacting members of the force.