Man who claims he was extorted into giving a detective garda €20k said he didn't tell GSOC

Niamh O'Donoghue

A man who claims he was extorted into giving a detective garda €20,000 in exchange for a tip-off about a raid on his car dealership, told gardaí he did not tell the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC).

Stephen O'Sullivan (43) is accused of giving or agreeing to give to Detective Garda David Bourke a monetary gain as an inducement to reveal confidential information concerning an investigation being carried out by CAB in relation to Stephen O’Sullivan, trading as Stephen Bawn Motors. Mr O'Sullivan, of Farrehy, Broadford, Co Limerick, is a director of the business.

He has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the single count of corruption at Bruree, Co Limerick on December 22nd, 2018.

The court has heard an audio recording of Stephen O’Sullivan giving €20,000 to Detective Garda David Bourke.

Mr O’Sullivan was arrested on January 23rd, 2019, by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NCBI).

The jury was told Mr O’Sullivan met with gardaí in 2022 and told them how he came to be in Det Gda Bourke’s Berlingo van and pay the €20,000. It was also told Mr O’Sullivan maintains he was intimidated or extorted to pay over that money.

Gardaí asked him how that meeting was arranged and he replied that he did not communicate with Det Gda Bourke by telephone before that.

Interview

“He came into the yard” . When asked what colour the van was, he said it was white and “there was a smell of greyhound piss” in it.

When asked by gardaí in the interview “How did you feel?” he said: “I didn’t want to be there. I felt pressurised and stressed.”

When asked by gardaí “Did you tell anyone?” he replied: “Who do you call like? You can’t call the guards on the guards. Who could you call like?”

He told gardaí that if he “went anywhere in Munster trying to report them, they’re going to be onto the next county.”

“That’s why I’m meeting you here today” he added.

When gardaí asked him if he reported it to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission or anything like that? “No I didn’t know about GSOC or anything like that.”

Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin presiding told the jury it was not required until Friday.