Thursday 5 November 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. 29558Impersonation of a garda · Co. Dublin · 9 Apr 2020

Former garda sentenced for impersonating a garda in Dublin

Stephen Magee, 45, a then-serving garda from Baldoyle, North Dublin, flashed unauthorised blue lights from his black Renault Megane at an unmarked garda car on 9 April 2020, and the vehicle contained a fake garda badge and a radio scanner. He was arrested on 12 April 2020 and the case was investigated by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. At Dublin District Court, Judge John Hughes sentenced him for impersonation of a garda, imposing a six-month term with the final three months suspended, and ordered him to pay €1,000 to his former partner and have no contact with her. He was also suspended from driving and had left the Garda following the incident.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced20 Oct
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Stephen Magee, 45, a then-serving garda, flashed unauthorised blue lights from his black Renault Megane at an unmarked garda car, and the vehicle contained a fake garda badge and a radio scanner.
  • The woman and her children returned home to find him in the sitting room, where he pushed her against a door with his elbow to her face and his hand on her neck.
  • The woman suffered massive bruising to her face and two broken fingers, and her children struck him with toy Power Rangers swords.
  • Magee left the Garda after the incident and was suspended from driving.
When
The incident occurred at around 3pm on 9 April 2020, and Magee was arrested and detained on 12 April 2020.
Investigation
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission investigated the case.
Charges
He was charged with impersonation of a garda.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin District Court before Judge John Hughes, who said the accused being a serving garda was an aggravating factor.
Sentence
Judge Hughes imposed a six-month sentence with the final three months suspended, ordered him to pay €1,000 to his former partner, and ordered no contact with her unless by court order.
Other details
In interview Magee denied intentionally switching on the blue lights, and he later retracted a claim that he trained garda members after no evidence was found.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man was a then-serving garda at the time of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman and her children returned home to find him in the sitting room. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe pushed her against a door with his elbow to her face and his hand on her neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman's children ran into the room and struck him with toy Power Rangers swords. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman suffered massive bruising to her face and two broken fingers. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused left the Garda after the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatStephen Magee was jailed for three months for impersonating a garda. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMagee flashed unauthorised blue lights from his black Renault Megane at an unmarked garda car in front of him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe two plain-clothes officers believed they were being pulled over by another garda vehicle. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMagee, 45, has been suspended from driving. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe vehicle contained a fake garda badge and a radio scanner. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe later retracted the training claim under caution after gardaí found no evidence to support it. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHaving blue lights in a civilian vehicle is itself an offence, but not the one he was charged with. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGarda Collins was in the passenger seat and Garda Kerry Harmon was driving the patrol car. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGarda Collins discovered further blue lights at the rear of the vehicle, just behind the headrest. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIn interview he denied intentionally switching on the blue lights. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMagee lost his job following the arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred at around 3pm on 9 April 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenMagee was arrested and detained on 12 April 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission investigated the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin District Court. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Hughes said the fact that the accused was a serving garda was an aggravating factor. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge John Hughes imposed a six-month sentence with the final three months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to pay €1,000 to his former partner. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to have no contact with her unless he has a court order. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMagee was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Oct2021
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, its first report
    Man jailed for impersonating a garda after flashing blue lights at unmarked car

    Reports the sentencing at Dublin District Court, the full evidence of Garda Collins and Garda Kerry Harmon, the items found in the vehicle and at Magee's home, and his various explanations for the blue lights.

    convicted, Stephen Magee, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Magee
  2. 20 Oct2021
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Women’s council critical of garda’s three-month sentence

    Reports the sentencing and the National Women's Council's criticism; mentions GSOC investigation, anonymity order, and broader context of garda domestic violence cases including the Sarah Everard murder in the UK.

    victim, femaleconvicted, 30s, male