Garda defendants wait as State builds 'complex investigation' case over gang facilitation and leak
Tom Tuite
Prosecutors have secured more time to prepare evidence against two gardaí facing separate charges of facilitating an organised crime gang and leaking confidential information.
The case before Dublin District Court follows a wider corruption investigation that has led to criminal proceedings against four serving officers and a retired Garda superintendent.
Garda Eoghan Clerkin (51) faces three allegations. One states that, on February 19th, 2018, he attempted to corruptly obtain a gift, consideration, or advantage as an inducement.
It is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to another firearms charge, he unlawfully possessed 33 rifle rounds and 73 rounds of 9mm ammunition at an address in west Dublin.
He is accused of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation from January 12th, 2018, to June 13th, 2019.
Garda Manus Keane, aged 46, is charged that on November 13th, 2014, he, a serving member, disclosed confidential information which was likely to have a harmful effect.
Judge Mark O'Connell noted from State solicitor Siobhan Matthews that it was a complex investigation with statements still outstanding.
He ordered the two men, who are on bail and yet to enter pleas, to appear again on September 11 next.
They, along with three other co-defendants, were arrested by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) in April.
Also due back before the court later are: retired Garda superintendent John Murphy and three other Dublin-based serving gardaí.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that they face trial on indictment.
Murphy, aged 65, and Detective Aidan Stratford face allegations covering five years.
It is alleged that they participated in or contributed to activities intended to facilitate serious offences by a criminal organisation, between April 12th, 2016, and September 29th, 2021, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
Murphy has seven separate bribery charges under the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018.
The ex-superintendent also faced four common law charges for communicating with a serving member of An Garda Síochána in a manner intended to pervert the course of public justice from April 2016 to January 2018.
Detective Aidan Stratford (50) has another 170 charges, including disclosing confidential information or corruptly accepting a gift, inducement, or reward on February 25th, 2020.
The court heard that "I deny the charge" was his reply to each allegation.
Garda Inspector Brian Roberts (51) was the fifth officer charged as part of the investigation and is accused of unlawfully disclosing confidential information on October 10, 2018.
