Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 8338Breach of the Official Secrets Act · Co. Dublin · 28 May 2026

Civil servant to face Special Criminal Court over alleged data leaks

Yevgen McKeeffe, a 46-year-old Irish man and civil servant, was arrested at the departures area of Dublin Airport on 28 May 2026, allegedly about to fly to Turkey with €5,650 and a one-way ticket. He is accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act by allegedly leaking sensitive government information to a hostile foreign power, and he denies the allegations. Bail was refused two days after his arrest and again on appeal to the High Court in June, and he has been held on remand since 30 May. On 11 August 2026 the District Court refused a defence strike-out application, and on 25 August the DPP directed that he be tried in the Special Criminal Court on four charges covering offences between 11 July 2025 and 28 May 2026. He was most recently remanded in continuing custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on 25 September.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Aug
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Yevgen McKeeffe, a 46-year-old Irish man and civil servant, is accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act.
  • He is accused of allegedly leaking sensitive government information to a hostile foreign power.
Where
He was arrested at the departures area of Dublin Airport on 28 May 2026 while carrying €5,650 and a one-way ticket.
When
The charges cover offences allegedly committed between 11 July 2025 and 28 May 2026.
Investigation
The Special Detective Unit ran an intelligence-led investigation, and gardaí seized electronic devices and documents, with sources differing on whether the search was of his home computer or his desktop computer at his workplace.
Cause
It is claimed he sent documents, pictures or videos to a handler in a foreign jurisdiction via the Telegram app.
Other details
  • Gardaí allege he received payments equivalent to €250 to €260 in a foreign currency, which were lodged into his mother's account.
  • He denies the allegations and has no prior convictions, and he remains suspended from work pending the case; his defence says he changed his name to a more Irish one and has ties to Ireland through his job, friends and a mortgage.
Charges
  • He faces four charges: unlawful disclosure of confidential government department information under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018, breach of the Data Protection Act, and two counts under the Official Secrets Act.
  • An earlier charge under section 9 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act for unlawful use of a computer was withdrawn and replaced by the four new charges.
In court
  • He was denied bail in the District Court two days after his arrest, and bail was refused again in June on appeal to the High Court, so he has been on remand since 30 May.
  • On 11 August 2026 at Cloverhill District Court, DPP directions were not available, the defence strike-out application was refused, and the case was ruled peremptory against the State.
  • The DPP directed that the case proceed on indictment and be tried in the Special Criminal Court, and a book of evidence must be served before he is returned for trial.
  • He was remanded in continuing custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on 25 September, though one source gives the return date as Friday.
Sentence
On conviction the offence is punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years.
48 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatYevgen McKeeffe, aged 46, is a civil servant accused of breaking the Official Secrets Act. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA Dublin civil servant is accused of leaking sensitive government information to a hostile foreign power. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereHe was arrested in the departures area at Dublin Airport on 28 May while carrying €5,650 and a one-way ticket. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereHe was arrested at the departures area of Dublin Airport on 28 May. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereMcKeeffe was arrested at the departures area of Dublin Airport. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe Special Detective Unit opened an intelligence-led investigation that led to his arrest as he was about to fly to Turkey. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí seized electronic devices and documents during a search of his home computer. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí seized his desktop computer from his workplace. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationIt was claimed he sent documents, pictures or videos to a handler in a foreign jurisdiction via the Telegram app. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda Special Detective Unit investigated the case. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe SDU opened an intelligence-led investigation that led to the arrest as he was about to fly to Turkey. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe Garda Special Detective Unit charged him with four offences committed between 11 July 2025 and 28 May 2026. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe first charge is under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 for unlawfully disclosing confidential information from a government department. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe also faces a charge of breaching the Data Protection Act. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe Special Detective Unit first charged him under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act for unlawful use of a computer. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe original charge was withdrawn and replaced with four new allegations covering offences between 11 July 2025 and 28 May 2026. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe first new charge is under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 for unlawfully disclosing confidential information from a government department. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe also faces a charge of breaching the Data Protection Act and two counts under the Official Secrets Act. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeMcKeeffe was charged under Section 9 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act for the unlawful use of a computer. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case would proceed on indictment at a higher level. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case resumed at Cloverhill District Court, where the judge noted the trial would be held in the Special Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe DPP stated that the trial will be held in the Special Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe has been a remand prisoner since 30 May, when bail was denied. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe was remanded in continuing custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on 25 September. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtAt Cloverhill District Court, the case was upgraded. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case proceed on indictment to a higher court, and a book of evidence must be served before he is returned for trial. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe was remanded in continuing custody to appear again on Friday. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe was denied bail in the District Court two days after his arrest and again in June on appeal to the High Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtHe was denied bail in the District Court two days after his arrest. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtBail was refused again in June on appeal to the High Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was listed for DPP directions, but they were not available. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defence applied for a strike-out, saying it was the fifth time the matter was before the District Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge refused the strike-out application. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was ruled peremptory against the State, so progress was needed on the next date or it would be struck out. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe accused was remanded in continuing custody to appear again on 25 August. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherIt was claimed he sent information to a handler in a foreign jurisdiction via the Telegram app. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherGardaí said he received payments in a foreign currency equivalent to €250–€260, which were lodged into his mother's account. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe denies the allegations. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence said he had changed his name to a more Irish one and had ties to Ireland through his job, friends and a mortgage. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe was attempting to leave the country carrying €5,650 and a one-way ticket. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherGardaí allege he received payments equivalent to €250 to €260 in a foreign currency, lodged into his mother's account. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe court heard he had signed the Official Secrets Act when he started his employment. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence said he had changed his name to a more Irish one and had ties to the country through his job, friends and a mortgage. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe has no prior convictions and denies the charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherOn conviction the offence is punishable by a maximum 10-year sentence. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherReporting restrictions bar journalists from revealing the overseas country involved and the information allegedly disclosed. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe had no prior convictions and denies the charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe remains suspended from work pending the case. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Aug2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    DPP faces strike-out deadline in case of civil servant accused of leaking to foreign power

    Reports the 11 August 2026 District Court listing: DPP directions were unavailable, the judge refused the defence strike-out application, the case was made peremptory against the State, and the accused was remanded in custody to 25 August.

    accused, Yevgen McKeeffe, 46, male, Irish, named, irishYevgen McKeeffe
  2. 1 Aug2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Civil servant arrested for leaks to hostile foreign power charged with breaking Official Secrets Act

    Reports the charges were upgraded at Cloverhill District Court to four new allegations, including under the Official Secrets Act, the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 and the Data Protection Act. Adds the DPP direction, remand, bail refusals, the investigation details and the defence response.

    accused, Yevgen McKeeffe, 46, male, Irish, named, irishYevgen McKeeffe
  3. 1 Aug2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Civil servant faces non-jury Special Criminal Court over alleged data leaks to hostile country

    Reports the DPP's decision that the case will be tried in the Special Criminal Court, the four charges, the remand to 25 September, and details of the alleged handler, payments and searches.

    accused, Yevgen McKeeffe, 46, male, Irish, named, irishYevgen McKeeffe