Ireland Case No. 11381Perverting the course of justice and unlawfully interfering with prosecutions · Co. Limerick
Jury sent home for weekend in trial of retired superintendent and four Gardaí
Retired superintendent Eamon O'Neill and four serving gardaiSergeant Anne Marie Hassett, Sergeant Michelle Leahy, Garda Colm Geary and Garda Tom McGlinchey are on trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. They are charged with 39 counts of conduct tending or intended to pervert the course of justice over alleged quashing of road traffic summonses between October 2016 and September 2019, and all have pleaded not guilty. After eight weeks of evidence, including defence witnesses Gerry Mahon and Fintan Fanning in January 2026, closing submissions were heard and the jury retired at 2pm on Friday 23 January 2026. The jury said it had not reached a verdict, was sent home for the weekend, and is due to resume deliberations at 9.30am on Monday.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Jan
6 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Retired superintendent Eamon O'Neill and four serving gardaí are on trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
- The prosecution alleges O'Neill was contacted by people seeking discretion on fixed charge penalty notices and forwarded the requests to co-accused.
- When
- The alleged offences occurred between October 2016 and September 2019, and O'Neill served in the Mid West region from 2017 to 2019.
- Where
- The trial is taking place at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, and the accused served in the Limerick and Clare Divisions.
- Cause
- The prosecution says O'Neill gave preferential treatment to people he knew or had a close connection with, and the policy changed following the so-called penalty points scandal.
- Investigation
- The case was investigated by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), and text messages between O'Neill and others, including sports personalities, were shown in court.
- Charges
- All five defendants have pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of conduct tending or intended to pervert the course of justice relating to alleged quashing of road traffic summonses for offences including speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, no insurance and not wearing a seatbelt.
- Reports differ on the counts: one lists O'Neill with 27 counts, while another lists the four gardaí with 39 counts involving 26 motorists, and all five are reported as facing 39 counts in total.
- In court
- On Monday 19 January 2026, in the eighth week of the trial, defence witness Gerry Mahon, a retired chief superintendent, said O'Neill had no power under the policy then in force to cancel traffic tickets.
- On 20 January 2026, Fintan Fanning, a retired assistant garda commissioner and defence witness, gave evidence on disciplinary processes, suspension and the 2014 Fixed Charge Penalty Notice system.
- The jury retired at 2pm on Friday 23 January 2026 and deliberated for about two hours, and the foreman told the judge at 4pm that no verdict had been reached.
- Judge Roderick Maguire sent the jury home for the weekend, and the jury will return at 9.30am on Monday to resume deliberations.
- Other details
- Mahon described O'Neill as one of the most dedicated crime fighters he had worked with and said in his opinion any breach was a disciplinary matter, not a criminal offence.
- It is alleged O'Neill advised at least one motorist to nominate another person as the driver for an alleged speeding offence.
- The defence said the prosecution was nonsense, and defence barristers told the jury their clients were not guilty and had been following the orders of a superior officer.
57 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe case centres on the cancelling of road traffic tickets after requests from members of the public not to issue fines. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe prosecution alleged that Eamon O’Neill was contacted by people seeking discretion on fixed charge penalty notices and forwarded the requests to co-accused. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatRetired superintendent Eamon O’Neill and four serving gardaí are on trial at Limerick Circuit Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe gardaí were all based in the mid-west, particularly in Limerick garda division. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred between October 2016 and September 2019. (rte.ie)
- whenThe jury retired at 2pm on the Friday and deliberated for two hours. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenO’Neill was serving in the Mid West region between 2017 and 2019. (limerickpost.ie)
- causeThe policy changed following the so-called penalty points scandal. (limerickpost.ie)
- causeThe prosecution's case is that O’Neill gave preferential treatment to people he knew or had a close connection with. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe National Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigated the practice of stopping tickets from being issued. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationMahon was shown text messages between O’Neill and others, including sports personalities, in which it is alleged he attempted to help square away traffic prosecutions. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe case was investigated by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI). (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe prosecution said text messages showed O’Neill was using his connections with motorists as the reason for quashing their prosecutions. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe five accused are charged with perverting the course of justice over the cancelling of fixed charge penalty notices. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeSergeant Michelle Leahy is accused over striking out a summons while in court. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe five accused are charged with 39 counts of conduct tending or intended to pervert the course of justice. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeFive people are accused of perverting the course of justice in Limerick. (rte.ie)
- chargeAll five defendants pleaded not guilty to 39 offences of conduct tending and intended to pervert the course of justice. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe case concerns alleged quashing of road traffic summonses. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe five have denied a total of 39 counts of unlawful quashing of pending or potential summonses for alleged motoring offences. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeEach defendant pleaded not guilty to 39 charges relating to attempting or having a tendency to pervert the course of justice. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe charges concern penalties for offences including speeding, holding a mobile phone while driving, having no insurance and not wearing a seatbelt. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeEamon O’Neill is charged with 27 counts of engaging in conduct tending or intended to pervert the course of justice. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeThe four serving Gardaí and Sergeants have denied 39 counts of unlawfully interfering in potential or pending prosecutions involving 26 motorists. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe jury began deliberations at 2pm. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe jury asked to go home for the weekend and restart deliberations on Monday morning. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe defence argues the gardaí used their discretion to cancel the offences. (thejournal.ie)
- courtDefence counsel completed their closing remarks to the jury. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial has lasted eight weeks. (thejournal.ie)
- courtOn the Monday of the hearing, the trial, in its eighth week, heard evidence from defence witness Gerry Mahon. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe court heard that under previous Garda policy, local superintendents had the power to cancel traffic tickets. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtMahon agreed that Garda policy at the time meant O’Neill did not have the power to cancel traffic tickets when he is alleged to have done so. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial is being heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie, limerickpost.ie)
- courtUnder cross-examination, Fanning was asked about the Fixed Charge Penalty Notice system introduced in 2014. (rte.ie)
- courtProceedings adjourned for the day and will resume in the morning. (rte.ie)
- courtThe five accused are on trial at Limerick Circuit Court. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial had lasted eight weeks. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe jury began deliberating just after 2pm on Friday 23 January 2026. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe jury told the judge it could not reach a verdict and would return to deliberate at 9.30am on Monday. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtA jury was sent home for the weekend in the trial of a retired superintendent and four serving Gardaí. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe trial had heard evidence over eight weeks. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe jury foreman told the judge that no verdict had been reached and that the jury would return on Monday. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherAll the accused pleaded not guilty. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe State alleges the gardaí had no power to cancel the offences and committed an offence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherCounsel asked why former Chief Superintendent John Scanlon was not before the court despite being questioned as a suspect. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMahon described O’Neill as one of the most dedicated crime fighters he had ever worked with. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherMahon said that any breach was a disciplinary matter and, in his opinion, not a criminal offence. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherIt is alleged O’Neill advised at least one motorist to nominate another person as the driver for an alleged speeding offence. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherFormer assistant garda commissioner Fintan Fanning gave evidence as a defence witness about disciplinary processes. (rte.ie)
- otherFanning said suspension of a garda from duty carries a stigma. (rte.ie)
- otherFintan Fanning, a retired Assistant Garda Commissioner, gave evidence at the trial. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe four serving gardaí on trial have been on suspension for the past six years. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe witness said he had never heard of any member being criminally prosecuted over the administration of fixed charge penalty notices or traffic summonses in almost 40 years of service. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe trial continues. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe jury heard evidence from high-ranking and retired officers of An Garda Síochána. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe defence said the prosecution was nonsense and that the accused had done nothing wrong. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherDefence barristers for the accused told the jury their clients were not guilty and had been following orders of a superior officer. (limerickpost.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jan2026Jury sent home for weekend in Garda trial
Reports the closing submissions, the jury's deliberations and the prosecution and defence positions in the trial, which has run for eight weeks; the verdict is still pending.
accused, Eamon O'Neill, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon O'Neillaccused, Anne Marie Hassett, named, irish (judged from name)Anne Marie Hassettaccused, Michelle Leahy, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Leahyaccused, Colm Geary, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Gearyaccused, Tom McGlinchey, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McGlinchey - 23 Jan2026Jury in Limerick garda trial could not return a verdict after two hours
Adds that the jury deliberated for two hours and six minutes on 23 January 2026 without reaching a verdict, and that they will return to deliberate at 9.30am on Monday.
accused, Eamon O'Neill, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon O'Neillaccused, Colm Geary, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Gearyaccused, Tom McGlinchey, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McGlincheyaccused, Michelle Leahy, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Leahyaccused, Anne-Marie Hassett, named, irish (judged from name)Anne-Marie Hassett - 20 Jan2026Former Assistant Garda Commissioner tells Garda trial being suspended is ‘terrifying’
Reports evidence from witness Fintan Fanning on suspension of gardaí, the cancellation of fixed charge penalty notices and the prosecution's allegations against Eamon O’Neill; the trial continues.
accused, Eamon O'Neill, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon O'Neillaccused, Anne Marie Hassett, 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 - 20 Jan2026Stigma attached to suspension from duty, garda trial told
Reports defence evidence from Fintan Fanning, a former assistant garda commissioner, on disciplinary sanctions and the 2014 Fixed Charge Penalty Notice system. The trial was adjourned for the day on 20 January 2026.
accused, Eamon O'Neill, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon O'Neillaccused, Anne-Marie Hassett, 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 - 19 Jan2026Court told retired Superintendent on trial for alleged interference in traffic tickets helped topple gangs that murdered 23 people
Reports the eighth week of the trial, when defence witness Gerry Mahon testified that O’Neill had no power to cancel traffic tickets under the policy then in force, and that in his opinion it was not a criminal offence. It also reports text messages shown in court and an alleged advice to a motorist to nominate another driver.
accused, Eamon O'Neill, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon O'Neillaccused, 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 - 1 Jan2026Jury adjourns deliberations in trial of four serving gardaí and a retired Superintendent
Reports that the jury asked to go home for the weekend and restart deliberations on Monday, after defence closing speeches. Sets out the accused's roles, the defence argument that the gardaí used discretion, and the State's position.
accused, Eamon O'Neill, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon O'Neillaccused, Michelle Leahy, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Leahyaccused, Anne-Marie Hassett, named, irish (judged from name)Anne-Marie Hassettaccused, Tom McGlinchey, named, irish (judged from name)Tom McGlincheyaccused, Colm Geary, named, irish (judged from name)Colm Geary