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. 5852Burglary; perverting the course of justice · Co. Dublin · 19 Jun 2021

Three gardaí sent forward for trial over burglary and perverting the course of justice

Three Dublin-based gardaí were sent forward for trial after an Anti-Corruption Unit investigation into alleged activities of a unit in the Dublin region in 2021. Garda Mark Duffy (39) and Sgt Ciaran Whelan (51) are charged with burglary at a flat on Kenilworth Road, Dublin 6, on June 19th, 2021, and with perverting the course of justice, while Robert Gorman (43) is charged with trespassing with intent to commit a theft offence at a basement flat on Mountjoy Square North, Dublin 1, on September 7th, 2021, and with two counts of perverting the course of public justice. Whelan is also charged with falsely imprisoning a woman at St John's Road West, Dublin 8, on September 7th, 2021, and co-defendant Garda Colum Ryan is charged with burglary and false imprisonment. The Director of Public Prosecutions decided the officers must face trial on indictment, Judge Kelly sent the cases to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and granted legal aid, and as of the May 17th, 2024 report the suspended officers had not addressed the court or indicated pleas.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Three Dublin-based gardaí have been sent forward for trial accused of perverting the course of justice and burglary.
Investigation
The case followed an investigation by the force's Anti-Corruption Unit into alleged activities of a unit in the Dublin region in 2021.
When
The burglary charged against Garda Mark Duffy and Sgt Ciaran Whelan is dated June 19th, 2021.
Where
The burglary charged against Duffy and Whelan took place at a flat on Kenilworth Road, Dublin 6.
Charges
  • Garda Mark Duffy (39), of Dublin 15, and Sgt Ciaran Whelan (51) are charged with burglary and with perverting the course of justice.
  • Robert Gorman (43), with an address in north Dublin, is charged with trespassing with intent to commit a theft offence on September 7th, 2021, at a basement flat on Mountjoy Square North, Dublin 1.
  • Robert Gorman is also accused of two counts of perverting the course of public justice, including signing information for a search warrant and creating three incidents on the Garda Pulse system.
  • Sgt Ciaran Whelan faces an additional charge of falsely imprisoning a woman at St John's Road West, Dublin 8, on September 7th, 2021.
  • Garda Colum Ryan, a co-defendant, is charged with burglary and false imprisonment.
In court
  • The Director of Public Prosecutions decided the officers must face trial on indictment, and Judge Kelly sent the cases forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
  • Judge Kelly granted the officers legal aid, including senior counsel representation, due to the seriousness and complexity of the case.
Other details
  • The officers were suspended from duty.
  • The three officers did not address the court and have yet to indicate pleas.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree Dublin-based gardaí have been sent forward for trial accused of perverting the course of justice and burglary. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe case followed an investigation by the force's Anti-Corruption Unit into the alleged activities of a unit in the Dublin region in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeOne of the officers faces an additional charge of falsely imprisoning a woman. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRobert Gorman is charged with trespassing with intent to commit a theft offence on September 7th, 2021 at a basement flat on Mountjoy Square North, Dublin 1. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRobert Gorman is also accused of two counts of perverting the course of public justice. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGarda Mark Duffy and Sgt Ciaran Whelan were charged with burglary at a flat on Kenilworth Road, Dublin 6, on June 19th, 2021, and perverting the course of justice. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeSgt Ciaran Whelan was further accused of falsely imprisoning a woman at St John’s Road West, Dublin 8, on September 7th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeA co-defendant, Garda Colum Ryan, has been charged with burglary and false imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions decided the officers must face trial on indictment, and Judge Kelly sent the cases forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Kelly granted the officers legal aid, including senior counsel representation, due to the seriousness and complexity of the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe officers were suspended from duty. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe three officers did not address the court and have yet to indicate pleas. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 May2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Three gardaí sent forward for trial accused of burglary and perverting the course of justice

    Gives the individual charges against each of the three gardaí, the dates and locations, the legal aid granted, and that the officers are suspended and have not yet entered pleas. A separate peace commissioner charge (Steven Wrenn) is mentioned but not included as it is a different case.

    accused, Robert Gorman, 43, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Gormanaccused, Mark Duffy, 39, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Duffyaccused, Ciaran Whelan, 51, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Whelanaccused, Colum Ryan, named, irish (judged from name)Colum Ryan