Ireland Case No. 4352Perverting the course of justice · Co. Limerick
Garda superintendent and four gardaí on trial for perverting course of justice over road traffic prosecutions
Retired Garda superintendent Eamon O'Neill and four serving gardaí are on trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 39 counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice relating to road traffic prosecutions. The court heard text message evidence between O'Neill and Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin regarding a 2017 speeding ticket on the M20.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court10 Dec
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatO'Neill stated in a prepared statement that involvement of high-ranking gardaí in dealing with fixed charge penalty notices is not a criminal offence. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFive people are on trial for 39 counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe five accused have all pleaded not guilty (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCllr Galvin was detected speeding at 142kph in a 120kph zone at M20, Patrickswell, on 12 November 2017 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGarda Josephine Falvey detected the speeding offence (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe council motion called on the government to review the locations of speed vans in Co Limerick (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCllr Galvin is not one of the five accused and has not been accused of any wrongdoing (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSgt Anne-Marie Hassett is Supt O'Neill's wife (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSupt O'Neill stated that involvement of high-rank members in dealing with FCPNs is not a criminal offence (irishmirror.ie)
- whereProsecution witness Donal Moloney is a farmer and proprietor of a livestock transport business in Ardnacrusha, Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe trial is being held at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
- whereSgt Michelle Leahy is based at Roxboro Road Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGarda Tom McGlinchey is based at Murroe Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGarda Colm Geary is based at Ennis Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMr Moloney was detected driving without a seatbelt at Oola, Co Limerick, on September 27, 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenO'Neill was arrested on May 16, 2019, during a dawn raid on his home in connection with a previous separate probe. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged speeding incident occurred on 12 November 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe trial is in its fifth week as of 11 December 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation was led by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe five accused pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court and is in its fifth week. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherO'Neill's statement claimed the involvement of high rank in FCPNs is a matter of custom and practice and not a criminal offence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCouncillor Liam Galvin is not one of the five accused and was not arrested as part of the GNBCI inquiry. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Dec2025Fine Gael councillor asked Garda to 'sort' his speeding ticket, trial hears
Fifth week of trial; evidence of text messages between Cllr Galvin and Supt O'Neill regarding a 142kph speeding ticket; details of the 39 counts and the State's case that O'Neill forwarded requests to withdraw or strike out road traffic prosecutions to co-accused.
accused, Eamonn O'Neill, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamonn O'Neillaccused, Anne-Marie Hassett, female, named, irish (judged from name)Anne-Marie Hassettaccused, Michelle Leahy, female, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Leahyaccused, Tom McGlinchey, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McGlincheyaccused, Colm Geary, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Geary - 10 Dec2025Fine Gael councillor asked Garda superintendent to ‘sort’ speeding ticket, court hears
First report of this trial; court heard text message evidence between Supt O'Neill and councillor Liam Galvin regarding a 2017 speeding ticket, and details of the 39 counts and the State's case.
accused, Eamon O'Neill, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon O'Neillaccused, Anne-Marie Hassett, female, named, irish (judged from name)Anne-Marie Hassettaccused, Michelle Leahy, female, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Leahyaccused, Tom McGlinchey, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McGlincheyaccused, Colm Geary, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Geary - 10 Dec2025Garda Supt. accused of interfering in road summonses says actions were 'allowed'
Fifth week of trial; defence cross-examined prosecution witnesses on the concept of discretion in policing; evidence of a text message from Chief Supt John Scanlon to O'Neill regarding a seatbelt detection at Oola was presented.
accused, Eamonn O'Neill, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamonn O'Neillaccused, Anne-Marie Hassett, female, named, irish (judged from name)Anne-Marie Hassettaccused, Michelle Leahy, female, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Leahyaccused, Tom McGlinchey, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McGlincheyaccused, Colm Geary, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Geary