Ireland Charges of perverting course of justice dropped against three Limerick gardaí
The State withdrew all 33 charges of perverting the course of justice against Peter O'Donnell, Paul Baynham and Niall Deegan at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 25 March 2026, after the three had been suspended from the Limerick Garda Divisional Roads Policing Unit since 2019.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports13 statements extracted from the articles
- whereAll three gardaí were serving in the Roads Policing Unit at Henry Street Garda station, Limerick Garda Division. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation was led by the GNBCI, a Dublin-based unit located at Harcourt Square. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe suspension followed a Garda investigation into alleged unlawful interference by gardaí into potential or pending road traffic prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation was focused entirely on the Limerick Garda Division and led by the GNBCI based in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe GNBCI investigation had led to charges of perverting the course of justice against seven gardaí and a retired superintendent. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP informed the solicitors representing the three gardaí that all charges would be formally dropped at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 25 March 2026. (irishtimes.com)
- courtIn September 2024 the three appeared before Limerick District Court charged with a total of 33 counts of perverting the course of public justice on dates between 2017 and 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence barristers John Byrne and James B Dwyer applied to have the cases struck out, noting the clients had been under investigation since 2019, on suspension since 2020, and still waiting for full disclosure of evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtProsecutor Carl Hanahoe withdrew all charges by entering a nolle prosequi at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe three gardaí have been on suspension for the past six years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe investigation focused on alleged unlawful garda interference in the prosecution of fixed charge penalty notices for pending or potential motoring offences. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAll three gardaí deny all of the charges. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe three were suspended from the Limerick Garda Divisional Roads Policing Unit in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Mar2026‘Six years of hell’: Charges of perverting course of justice dropped against traffic gardaí
Reports the State's withdrawal of all 33 charges by nolle prosequi, and includes comments from the defence solicitor and the Garda Representative Association calling for a public inquiry into the GNBCI investigation.
accused, male, irish (judged from name)accused, Paul Baynham, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Baynhamaccused, Niall Deegan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Deegan - 18 Mar2026Charges to be dropped against three road traffic gardaí after six-year investigation
Reports the DPP's decision on 18 March 2026 to drop all charges, with details of the six-year GNBCI investigation, the March 2 court hearing where the prosecution cited budgetary overruns and the defence sought strike-out, and the context of recent acquittals of a retired superintendent and four serving gardaí on similar charges.
accused, 52, male, irish (judged from name)accused, Paul Baynham, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Baynhamaccused, Niall Deegan, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Deegan