Report finds 'no evidence of wrongdoing' by Limerick gardai investigating fatal road traffic collision

THE OFFICE of the Police Ombudsman has found “no evidence of wrongdoing” by Limerick gardai investigating the death of a young girl killed in a tragic road traffic collision.

Savannah Calvert, from Garryowen, lost her life aged only 14 in 2023, when she was crossing the road at Bank Place in the city centre.

Last year, her eldest sister Diane was told the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would not be bringing charges against the driver of the car which struck the teenager.

The Calvert family were not happy with this decision with Diane Calvert saying she felt “angry and let down”.  Since then, the Calvert family stepped up their campaign to secure what they called “justice for Savannah”. It included a march which ended in a gathering outside  Limerick Courthouse on Mulgrave Street.

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Diane Calvert referred Savannah’s case to Fiosrú which replaced the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC). Fiosrú commenced a probe into how gardai in Limerick investigated the fatal collision.

The Leader has learned that the gardai who investigated the road traffic incident involving Savannah is the same team of officers that investigated and secured convictions in the hit-and-run case concerning the death of UL student Joe Drennan in Castletroy.

A report compiled by Fiosrú, which has been seen by the Limerick Leader, examined the details of the garda investigation into the collision involving Savannah. 

The author of the report concluded by saying, “I can only conclude that the allegations made by you (Diane Calvert) were not proven and the investigation concludes no evidence of wrongdoing by the investigating member”.

The report goes on to say, “Please note that as the investigation has been concluded, Fiosrú, Office of the Police Ombudsman will now proceed to close this case”.

The report stated that Fiosrú cannot comment on the direction of the DPP, or make any comments in relation to their decision, but “all evidence was present in the file for the DPP to review and come to a decision”.

Fiosrú described a claim made by the complainant that the driver of the car was not prosecuted because his mother was the first cousin of a garda, who is married to a detective, as "vexatious".

“There is no evidence that supports this allegation and there is no involvement of both members in the investigation,” said Fiosrú.

The Office of the Police Ombudsman dismissed an allegation that gardaí allowed evidence (the vehicle) to be destroyed, saying gardai are “under no obligation to keep the vehicle after it was fully examined and documented”.

“All evidence relating to the vehicle was presented in the investigation file and sent to the DPP,” stated the report.

Fiosrú also refuted an allegation from Diane Calvert that a taxi driver who was at the scene was not identified in the DPP file as a witness, and that “this may be missing evidence in the file, namely dash camera footage”.

The author of the report said they spoke with the taxi driver and he declined to make a statement.

“He stated to me verbally that he was parked next to the road to pick up passengers when he heard a loud noise behind his vehicle and then realised that a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle. 

“His vehicle was facing the opposite direction and would not have captured the collision,” said the author.

The author of the Fiosrú report, in its conclusion, said “some of the concerns (from Diane Calvert) are only opinions”.

“I can only conclude that the allegations made by you were not proven and the investigation concludes no evidence of wrongdoing by the investigating member,” states the author.

In a statement to the Leader, Diane Calvert said she and her family are extremely disappointed by the decision to close this investigation.

“My sister Savannah was only 14-years-old. We submitted detailed evidence showing serious contradictions and unanswered questions. We do not feel those questions have been properly answered.

“As Savannah's sister, I cannot and will not simply accept that without clarity,” said Ms Calvert, who has now asked Fiosrú to “explain exactly what was examined and why these issues were not addressed”.

“I am also taking legal advice and will consider all options available to me, to include a Judicial Review of the Fiosrú outcome. This has never been about blame — it has always been about truth.

“Savannah deserves that. And I will continue to fight for that. An Garda Siochana, nor any other agency, will stop us getting justice for Savannah, we will take a judicial review of the decision of Fiosrú and will send a file to the European Court of Human Rights under article two - the right to life,” concludes the statement that was given to the Limerick Leader.