Wednesday 28 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. 0006Soliciting murder · Co. Dublin

Garda charged with soliciting murder of woman and three children

A 33-year-old male garda, suspended from duty, was charged with soliciting an unknown person to murder a woman and three children (a girl and two boys) in August 2021, and with attempting to induce the woman to refrain from seeking financial support for a child by deception between 2019 and 2020. He was arrested at Kevin Street Garda Station on 19 August 2026 and charged with five offences by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit. He appeared before Dublin District Court the same day, made no reply to the charges under caution, and the DPP directed the case to proceed on indictment. He was remanded on bail with a €300 lodgement and his passport surrendered, and is due before the Central Criminal Court on 25 September 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged19 Aug
    2 reports
  4. In court19 Aug
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 33-year-old male garda, suspended from duty, was charged with soliciting an unknown person to murder a woman and three children (a girl and two boys).
  • He was also charged with attempting to induce the woman to refrain from seeking financial support for a child by deception.
Where
The arrest took place at Kevin Street Garda Station in Dublin.
When
Four of the five alleged offences occurred between 21 and 22 August 2021; the deception charge spans 9 February 2019 to 16 July 2020.
Investigation
The investigation was carried out by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit, and Detective Sergeant Mark Melbourne made the arrest.
Charges
The four soliciting charges are contrary to Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861.
In court
  • The accused appeared before Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 19 August 2026 and made no reply to the charges under caution.
  • The DPP directed the case to proceed on indictment before the Central Criminal Court.
  • Judge Darach McCarthy imposed reporting restrictions preventing publication of the garda's identity, address, and the identities of the victims.
Sentence
He was remanded on bail with a €300 lodgement and his passport surrendered, to appear before the Central Criminal Court on 25 September 2026.
Other details
  • The garda has been suspended from duty since the investigation began.
  • The victims, a woman and three children, cannot be identified due to court-ordered reporting restrictions.
52 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe suspect is a man in his 30s who is a member of An Garda Síochána. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe arrest was part of an investigation into drug-related intimidation (garda.ie)
  • whatA male in his 20s was arrested by Gardaí from Tallaght on 18 August 2026 (garda.ie)
  • whatThe accused is a 33-year-old male garda (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe garda has been suspended from duty (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe garda cannot be identified for legal reasons (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA suspended garda in his 30s was charged with soliciting the murders of a woman and three children. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe is accused of soliciting an unknown person to murder two females and two males. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereHe was detained in a Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (garda.ie)
  • whenThe garda was arrested on Wednesday morning at Kevin Street Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenHe was arrested and charged at Kevin Street Garda station shortly after 9am on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenFour of the five alleged offences occurred between 21 and 22 August 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Garda Anti-Corruption Unit has been investigating the activities of a particular Garda member based in the Dublin Region. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe matter is an ongoing criminal investigation. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe male was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie)
  • investigationDetective Sergeant Mark Melbourne from the Anti-Corruption Unit made the arrest (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation was carried out by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit. (rte.ie)
  • investigationDet Sgt Mark Melbourne of the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit told the court the officer made no reply to the charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe man has been charged. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe male has been charged in connection with the investigation (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe garda was charged with five offences (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with soliciting an unknown person to murder the woman and three children in August 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with attempting to deceive the woman out of seeking financial support for his child across 2019 and 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with soliciting an unknown person in August 2021 to murder a woman, a girl and two boys. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with attempting to induce the woman to refrain from seeking financial support for a child by deception between 9 February 2019 and 16 July 2020. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe soliciting charges are contrary to Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice, Court Number 2, on 19 August 2026. (garda.ie)
  • courtHe is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 19 August 2026 at 10:30am (garda.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin District Court (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe accused made no reply to the charges under caution (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThere was no objection to bail (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe accused's passport had been surrendered (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA €300 lodgement was sought for bail (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe bail conditions were agreed on consent (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe DPP directed the case to proceed on indictment before the Central Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe garda was remanded on bail to appear again on 25 September 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Darach McCarthy presided over the hearing (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA garda in his 30s appeared before Dublin District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe garda will appear before the Central Criminal Court on 25 September when a book of evidence will be served. (rte.ie)
  • courtThere was no objection to bail and he was released on his own bond of €300. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Darach McCarthy imposed reporting restrictions preventing publication of the garda's identity and address. (rte.ie)
  • courtHe appeared before Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtReporting restrictions were sought to protect the identities of the witnesses, three of whom were children, and their mother. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBail was set at €300 with conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge imposed a restriction prohibiting media from identifying any parties in the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned to 25 September 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOne member of An Garda Síochána has been suspended from duty. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe garda was serving in the Dublin area and has been suspended from duty. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe garda was arrested, charged and cautioned at Kevin Street Garda Station and made no reply to five charges. (rte.ie)
  • otherAn Garda Síochána confirmed the man had been suspended since the investigation began. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe garda was wearing all black and placed his head in his hands during his court appearance. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Aug2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Garda charged with soliciting murders of woman and three children

    First court appearance; charged with four counts of soliciting murder under Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and one count of attempting to induce by deception; bail set at €300 with conditions; passport surrendered; reporting restrictions imposed; adjourned to 25 September 2026.

    suspect, 30s, male, irish (judged from name)victim, femalevictim, femalevictim, malevictim, male
  2. 19 Aug2026
    Chargedrte.ie, first report
    Garda charged with soliciting murder of woman, 3 children

    First report of the charging; reporting restrictions prevent identification of the garda and the alleged victims. Investigation by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit.

    accused, 30s, malevictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, malevictim, male
  3. 19 Aug2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Garda charged with soliciting murder of woman and three children

    First court appearance; arrested at Kevin Street Garda Station; DPP directed trial on indictment; remanded on bail with €300 lodgement and passport surrendered.

    victim, femalevictimaccused, 33, male
  4. 19 Aug2026
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    19/08/2026 Arrest and Court Appearance - Drug-Related Intimidation Investigation, Tallaght, Dublin 24- 19th August 2026

    Garda press release confirming the arrest and charging of a male in his 20s in a drug-related intimidation investigation in Tallaght, Dublin 24, with a court appearance at the CCJ on 19 August 2026.

    accused, 20s, male
  5. 19 Aug2026
    In courtgarda.ie, first report
    19/08/2026 Court Appearance: An Garda Síochána (Garda Anti-Corruption Unit) Investigation in the Dublin Region. 19th August, 2026.

    First report of the charge and court appearance of a suspended Garda member in his 30s in an Anti-Corruption Unit investigation in the Dublin Region.

    suspect, 30s, male