Garda charged with perverting the course of justice in court prosecution

Tom Tuite

A Garda has been charged with interfering with a District Court prosecution with the intent to pervert the course of justice.

Brian O’Neill, 45, with an address in Arklow, Co Wicklow, appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on Thursday.

He was ordered to appear again in December for prosecutors to serve him with a book of evidence.

Garda Anti-Corruption Unit Detective Sergeant Garda Kieran Kilcoyne told Judge Kelly that the accused was arrested on September 26th at Lucan Garda station in Dublin.

He was charged with a single offence, and he made no reply.

Mr O'Neill is accused that on dates between October 25th, 2018 and December 13th, 2018 inclusive, with the intent to pervert the course of public justice did acts request another to deliberately interfere with a District Court prosecution which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice "in that you intentionally requested the prosecuting Garda to interfere with a prosecution in order that the matters were not adjudicated by a District Court Judge in a true and proper manner".

The alleged offence is contrary to common law.

Detective Sergeant Kilcoyne stated that the accused was on station bail and therefore, there would be no application for bail conditions.

Defence solicitor Liz Hughes said there was consent to a lengthy adjournment and whatever time was required for the State to complete the book of evidence.

Judge Kelly noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that Mr O'Neill would face trial on indictment in the Circuit Court.

No plea was entered by the accused, who spoke only to confirm he was in court while stepping forward when his case was called.

Judge Kelly ordered him to appear again on December 12th to be served with a book of evidence and returned for trial.