Ireland Five gardaí acquitted of perverting the course of justice at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court
A jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court acquitted retired superintendent Eamon O'Neill, Garda Anne Marie Hassett, Sgt Michelle Leahy, Garda Colm Geary, and Garda Tom McGlinchey on 39 charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice following a nine-week trial. The five had been accused of planning the termination of road traffic prosecutions connected to O'Neill's close relationships with the individuals involved.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Acquitted26 Jan
3 reports - Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports15 statements extracted from the articles
- whenThe alleged offences occurred while O'Neill was serving in the midwest region between 2017 and 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged preferential treatment occurred while O'Neill was serving in the midwest region between 2017 and 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe five were arrested in April 2021 and charged in May 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe five accused denied a total of 39 counts of unlawfully interfering in potential or pending prosecutions involving 26 motorists. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury found all five accused not guilty on all 39 counts at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial lasted eight weeks at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury consisted of eight men and four women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury resumed deliberating at 9.40am on Monday and spent more than five hours before reaching a verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury of eight men and four women deliberated for six hours and seven minutes. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe prosecution heavily relied on text messages allegedly exchanged between the five accused (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury was composed of eight men and four women (irishtimes.com)
- otherRetired assistant Garda commissioner Fintan Fanning and retired chief superintendent Gerry Mahon gave evidence at the trial. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe five remained suspended from the force for five years while awaiting trial (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe four serving officers had their six-year suspensions lifted following the acquittals (irishtimes.com)
- otherGarda Geary and Garda Hassett are awaiting confirmation of promotion to Detective Garda and Garda Sergeant respectively (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Jan2026Why acquittal of Limerick gardaí could have implications ‘for future of policing in Ireland’
Reports the not guilty verdicts on all 39 charges, the lifting of the four serving officers' six-year suspensions, and commentary from retired senior gardaí on the implications for policing discretion in Ireland.
accused, male, irish (judged from name)accused, femaleaccused, Anne Marie Hassett, named, irish (judged from name)Anne Marie Hassettaccused, Michelle Leahy, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Leahyaccused, Colm Geary, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Gearyaccused, Tom McGlinchey, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McGlinchey - 26 Jan2026‘Shame on them’: Retired superintendent in traffic case criticises people behind inquiry
Reports the unanimous acquittal of all five defendants on all 39 charges after a nine-week trial, with reactions from the accused, their legal team, and calls for a public inquiry into the GNBCI investigation that led to the charges.
accused, male, irish (judged from name)accused, Anne Marie Hassett, female, named, irish (judged from name)Anne Marie Hassettaccused, Michelle Leahy, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Leahyaccused, Tom McGlinchey, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McGlincheyaccused, Colm Geary, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Geary - 26 Jan2026Retired superintendent and serving gardaí found not guilty in road traffic prosecutions case
Jury returned not guilty verdicts on all 39 counts after more than seven hours of deliberation across two days, following an eight-week trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
accused, male, irish (judged from name)accused, Anne Marie Hassett, female, named, irish (judged from name)Anne Marie Hassettaccused, Michelle Leahy, female, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Leahyaccused, Colm Geary, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Gearyaccused, Tom McGlinchey, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McGlinchey