Three gardaí and retired superintendent sent forward for trial

A retired Garda superintendent and three gardaí serving in the southern region have been sent forward for trial in the Circuit Court on almost 40 counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The four accused appeared before Limerick District Court on Friday and were served with books of evidence by Det Chief Supt Walter O’Sullivan of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI).

They are retired superintendent Edmund ‘Eamon’ O’Neill (54), with an address in Co Clare; Sgt Michelle Leahy (45), with an address in Co Limerick; Garda Tom McGlinchey (48), with an address in Co Tipperary; and Garda Colm Geary (34), with an address in Co Clare.

A fifth accused, Sgt Anne Marie Hassett (36), with an address in Co Clare, who was also due to be served with a book of evidence, was granted a three-week adjournment after her solicitor produced a medical cert excusing her attendance.

The evidence relates to the operation of the Garda penalty points system and the handling of fixed charge notices following alleged detections for road traffic offences such as speeding, holding a mobile phone while driving, driving without insurance and not wearing a seatbelt.

The charges against the five accused follow a two-year investigation carried out by the GNBCI. The offences are alleged to have occurred on dates between October 9th, 2016, and September 6th, 2019.

Investigating gardaí arrested the five accused after conducting a major intelligence operation, suspecting that a number of fixed charge notices were not proceeded with. The charges against the five relate to alleged road traffic matters involving some well-known sportspeople and media figures.

Liam Sheridan, solicitor for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court the accused could be sent forward for trial to Limerick Circuit Court.

Mr O’Neill’s solicitor, Dan O’Gorman, stated he had “reservations” about the contents of the book served on his client, who he argued was also entitled to an adjournment so that his defence could consider the contents.

However, Judge Marian Harney said Sgt Hassett had been granted an adjournment on foot of a medical certificate being presented to the court.

Mr O’Gorman told a hearing last month that Mr O’Neill would be “vigorously contesting” the charges against him.

He is facing 30 counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice; Sgt Hassett is facing three counts; Sgt Leahy faces two counts; Garda McGlinchey faces four counts; and Garda Geary faces three.

The four accused on Friday signed €300 bail bonds, which did not have to be lodged in court, and they were each remanded on continuing bail to appear for trial.