Three new charges brought against man accused of applying for passports using names of deceased babies in Cork
It was alleged that Randolph Kirk Parker (pictured) had passports in the names of two babies who died within three months of birth in 1952 and 1953. Picture: Larry Cummins
THREE new charges were brought today against the 72-year-old American previously known as Philip Morris and later identified through enquiries with the FBI as Randoph Kirk Parker.
Detective Garda Padraic Hanley of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation testified at Cork District Court that Mr Kirk was formally arrested, charged and cautioned in respect of three new counts and he had nothing to the say to the charges.
Already facing passport-related charges, he was additionally charged on January 29 with one further charge of providing false information to obtain a passport at the Passport Office, South Mall, Cork, in 2013, possession of a driving licence obtained by using a false name on the date on which he was arrested, and giving a false name to gardaí when he was at the Bridewell garda station at the time of his arrest last September.
Det. Garda Hanley said the Director of Public Prosecution directed trial by indictment on all charges except the last count of giving gardaí a false name at the Bridewell in Cork.
Frank Buttimer, solicitor for the accused, asked for a precis of the prosecution evidence so that the accused could consider whether he would be entering signed pleas of guilty or if a book of evidence would be required.
Judge Mary Dorgan granted an initial adjournment until February 1, when it is anticipated that it will be further adjourned. The accused will appear by video link from prison on that date.
At a previous hearing, Det. Garda Hanley said, “We believe we have identified the accused through enquiries with the FBI as Randolph Parker with a date of birth, the seventh of the third, 1951.”
Mr Buttimer said, “There is no objection to that amendment to the charge sheets. Mr Morris here to fore acknowledges that his name is as stated by Detective Garda Hanley – Randolph Kirk Parker.”
Before today the accused faced charges related to an investigation into the alleged application for passports in the names of babies who died in the 1950s. He has been in custody since his arrest at the passport office on South Mall, Cork, on September 14.
It was alleged that he had passports in the names of two babies who died within three months of birth in 1952 and 1953.
One charge states that on September 11 this year at the passport office on South Mall, Cork, he provided information or documents which were false or misleading, in connection with a passport application. There are two similar charges referring to an unknown date between September 12 and 25 2012 at the Passport Office on South Mall, Cork, and the application for the issue of a passport, and one final, similar charge referring to a different date, June 7 2022.
In total now he faces four passport-related charges, one related to a driving licence and the summary charge of giving gardaí a false name when arrested.
App?
