Garda call-taker who accessed information on herself pleads guilty
“A NAIVE and completely non-criminal” action by a 999 call-taker at a Garda station saw a young probationer civilian employee, who is now being prosecuted under the Data Protection Act, access data about herself and then share it with family and friends via Snapchat. Picture Dan Linehan
“A NAIVE and completely non-criminal” action by a 999 call-taker at a Garda station saw a young probationer civilian employee, who is now being prosecuted under the Data Protection Act, access data about herself and then share it with family and friends via Snapchat.
That was how defence solicitor Frank Buttimer described the actions of 33-year-old Carrie Blake, of Meadow Avenue, The Meadows, Hollyhill, Cork, who pleaded guilty to the offence.
The solicitor described her as a decent person who had no previous convictions, who really liked her job and was getting on well in it, before and even in the year since this occurred.
Judge Mary Dorgan requested a probation report on the woman and adjourned the case until October 22 at Cork District Court.
Sergeant John Kelleher said the clerical officer working as a 999 call-taker accessed details about herself on the Garda Pulse system, photographed the screen, and shared the image with some family members and friends. Mr Buttimer said the details related to nobody but herself.
Ms Blake started working at Anglesea Street Garda Station in January 2023 and she accessed the Pulse system about herself on April 27, 2023.
Mr Buttimer said she had been told she could access Pulse if necessary for her work, but on this occasion “she looked herself up”.
He said she only shared it because of something she found funny in it, and in essence that was the data breach.
“She was required to be interviewed, which she found very traumatic,” he said.
“She remained employed until two or three weeks ago when the charge was preferred (she is suspended on pay, pending the outcome of the case).
“She had done something naïve rather than with any criminal intent. She pleaded guilty. She has no record whatsoever. She is an extremely decent person. She is traumatised in the extreme. In effect, she has inflicted more punishment on herself [by the amount of worrying she had done about it].”
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