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. 7748Breach of Official Secrets Act · Co. Dublin · 28 May 2026

Civil servant to face Special Criminal Court over alleged leaks to foreign handler

Civil servant Yevgen McKeeffe, 46, was arrested in the departures area of Dublin Airport, County Dublin, on 28 May 2026 while attempting to leave the country 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 foreign contact, and the Garda Special Detective Unit charged him with four offences dated between 11 July 2025 and 28 May 2026. The article describes him as originally from Ukraine and says he has Irish citizenship. He was refused bail and has been held on remand since 30 May 2026. The DPP has directed that he be tried in the non-jury Special Criminal Court, and he was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 25 September 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Aug
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Civil servant Yevgen McKeeffe, 46, is accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act by allegedly leaking sensitive Government information to a foreign handler.
  • He was attempting to leave the country carrying €5,650 and a one-way ticket.
  • The key facts say he was to proceed to his final destination to meet a contact and share confidential information that could create risk to the Irish state.
  • He is an IT worker who has lived in Ireland for 24 years, having been in the country lawfully since 2002.
  • He had changed his name by deed poll to a more Irish one and had used four other name variations.
Where
He was arrested in the departures area of Dublin Airport, County Dublin.
When
He was arrested on 28 May 2026.
Other details
  • The article says he is originally from Ukraine and has Irish citizenship; the key facts list an Irish passport and two other non-Irish travel documents.
  • He came to Ireland because he was gay and faced discrimination beforehand, and he remains suspended from work pending the outcome of the case.
Investigation
Gardaí seized electronic devices and documents during a search of his home and seized his desktop computer from his workplace.
Charges
  • The Garda Special Detective Unit charged him with four offences between 11 July 2025 and 28 May 2026.
  • The first charge is under the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 for unlawfully disclosing confidential information from a specific government department.
  • The other three charges are a breach of the Data Protection Act and two counts under the Official Secrets Act for retaining official data and communicating it prejudicially to the safety and preservation of the State.
In court
  • The DPP directed that the case proceed on indictment and that the trial be held in the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
  • He has been remanded in custody since 30 May 2026, when bail was refused; the defence highlighted three months in custody and called for an expedited trial.
  • He was remanded in continuing custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 25 September 2026.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe was attempting to leave the country carrying €5,650 and a one-way ticket. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe is an IT worker who has lived in Ireland for 24 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe had previously changed his name by deed poll to a more Irish one. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was to proceed to his final destination to meet his contact and share confidential information that could create risk to the Irish state. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe had used four other variations of names. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe held an Irish passport and two other non-Irish travel documents. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe was arrested in the departures area at Dublin Airport on 28 May 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe had been in Ireland lawfully since 2002 and progressed to citizenship. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí seized electronic devices and documents during a search of his home computer. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí seized his desktop computer from his workplace. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe SDU charged him with four offences between 11 July 2025 and 28 May 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe first charge is under the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 for unlawfully disclosing confidential information from a specific government department. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe also faces a charge of breaching the Data Protection Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe faces two counts under the Official Secrets Act for retaining official data and communicating it prejudicially to the safety and preservation of the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP directed the case to proceed on indictment at a higher level. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP stated the trial will be held in the Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe has been a remand prisoner since 30 May when bail was denied. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe was remanded in continuing custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 25 September. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe came to Ireland because he was gay and faced discrimination beforehand. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe remains suspended from work pending the outcome of the case. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Aug2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Civil servant to face non-jury Special Criminal Court over alleged leaks to foreign handler

    DPP directed trial to Special Criminal Court; accused remanded in custody since 30 May; next appearance 25 September at Cloverhill District Court; defence highlighted three months in custody and called for expedition

    accused, Yevgen McKeeffe, 46, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Yevgen McKeeffe