Friday 30 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. 13487Attempting to pervert the course of justice; forgery · Co. Longford · 13 Feb 2019

Garda found not guilty of forgery and attempting to pervert the course of justice at Longford Circuit Court

On 13 February 2019, Owen Flynn, a Garda, was working a night shift at Ballymahon Garda Station when the events at the centre of the case took place. Flynn, a man, was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and with forging two signatures in his official Garda notebook, in the investigation of an underage sex case. He was tried at Longford Circuit Court before Judge Jonathan Dunphy and a jury of 12 over 12 days, and the jury deliberated for four hours and 46 minutes. In June 2025 the jury returned not guilty verdicts on both counts, which is the latest development.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Acquitted10 Jun
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Owen Flynn, a Garda, was the subject of a case concerning two signatures in his official Garda notebook.
Where
The events took place at Ballymahon Garda Station.
When
The events occurred on 13 February 2019 while the Garda was working a night shift.
Cause
The case arose in the investigation of an underage sex case.
Investigation
  • CCTV footage showed three men in conversation with the Garda, and two of them wrote their names on a piece of paper.
  • A handwriting report was inconclusive as to whether the signatures in the Garda notebook were forged.
Charges
Owen Flynn was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and with forging two signatures.
In court
  • The trial was held at Longford Circuit Court before Judge Jonathan Dunphy and a jury of 12 over 12 days.
  • In June 2025 the jury returned not guilty verdicts on both counts.
Other details
  • The jury deliberated for four hours and 46 minutes.
  • The article gives Owen Flynn's address as Dunlo Hill, Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA Garda was found not guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice and of forging two signatures in his official Garda notebook. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe events took place at Ballymahon Garda Station. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe events occurred on 13 February 2019, when the Garda was working a night shift. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage showed three men in conversation with the Garda, and two of them wrote their names on a piece of paper. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationA handwriting report was inconclusive as to whether the signatures in the Garda notebook were forged. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe trial was held at Longford Circuit Court before Judge Jonathan Dunphy and a jury of 12 over 12 days. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe jury deliberated for four hours and 46 minutes before returning not guilty verdicts on both counts. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Jun2025
    Acquittedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Garda found not guilty of forging signature following lengthy Longford circuit court trial

    Trial verdict: the jury returned not guilty verdicts on both counts after a 12-day trial. The article gives the 2019 incident at Ballymahon Garda Station and details of the evidence and deliberations.

    accused, Owen Flynn, male, named, irish (judged from name)Owen Flynn