Garda accused of false imprisonment, burglary and perverting course of justice

Tom Tuite

A Dublin-based garda sergeant is to stand trial accused of the false imprisonment of a woman, perverting the course of justice and burglary.

The Garda Anti-Corruption Unit has been investigating the activities of a particular Garda unit based in the Dublin region, leading to the arrest of four officers who are currently suspended from duty.

Ciaran Whelan (51), with an address in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was arrested earlier this month and charged. He has worked out of the detective unit in Store Street Garda station in central Dublin.

Gda Sgt Whelan had been given station bail to appear before Judge William Aylmer at Dublin District Court on Tuesday, facing seven charges concerning alleged offences between June 19th and September 27th, 2021.

He is accused of false imprisonment of a named woman at St John's Road West, Dublin 8, on September 7th.

It is also alleged he perverted the course of public justice by making a false report between August 25th and September 15th to a named Garda Superintendent regarding a search of a male's flat on Kenilworth Road, Dublin 6, on June 19th.

He is also charged with burglary at that flat, by entering it as a trespasser to commit a theft offence, and perverting the course of justice on September 27th by amending data on the Garda Pulse system regarding two incidents.

He is further accused of twice perverting the course of public justice on August 28th, by allegedly creating and printing a search warrant and information for a search that occurred on June 19th at the flat in Kenilsworth Road, Dublin6, and creating an incident on the Pulse system in relation to the search.

Trial on indictment

The defendant, who was dressed in dark blue jeans, a navy jumper, and a black jacket, stood silently throughout the brief hearing on Tuesday. He is yet to indicate a plea.

Garda Inspector Tom Cooney told the court that the defendant was arrested on the morning of March 11th at Irishtown Garda station and was subsequently charged, to which he "made no reply to any charge".

Inspector Cooney said the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment, meaning the case will proceed to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers in the case of a conviction.

Defence solicitor Andrew Freeman said there was consent to an eight-week adjournment.

Judge Aylmer remanded the accused to appear again at the District Court on May 17th, when he will be served with a book of evidence.

He is the second person to come before the courts in relation to the probe, after Garda Mark Duffy (39), with an address in Dublin 15, appeared before Dublin District Court last week.

The Dublin-based garda is accused of intending to pervert the course of public justice between August 28th and December 20th, 2021.

He is further accused of burglary at a flat on Kenilworth Road on June 19th, 2021.

He is also yet to indicate a plea, and is due back in court on May 17th to be served with a book of evidence.