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. 5850Perverting the course of justice; burglary; false imprisonment · Co. Dublin · 7 Sep 2021

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

Three Dublin-based gardaí, Robert Gorman, 43, Mark Duffy, 39, and Ciaran Whelan, 51, were sent forward for trial over alleged perverting the course of justice and burglary offences, following a Garda Anti-Corruption Unit investigation into alleged activities in 2021 of a unit in the Dublin region. The alleged offences include trespassing with intent to commit theft at a basement flat at Mountjoy Square North on September 7, 2021, and false imprisonment of a woman at Saint John's Road West, Dublin 8, on the same date, which Whelan is accused of. Co-defendant Colum Ryan, 35, was charged earlier with burglary and false imprisonment and is due in court later this month. At a return-for-trial hearing at Dublin District Court, reported on May 17, 2024, the judge sent the three officers forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with mention set for June 13, and they were remanded on bail after not addressing the court or indicating 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 were sent forward for trial accused of perverting the course of justice and burglary.
  • Robert Gorman, 43, is charged with trespassing with intent to commit a theft offence and with two counts of perverting the course of public justice.
  • Mark Duffy and Ciaran Whelan are charged with burglary and with perverting the course of justice.
  • Ciaran Whelan is accused of false imprisonment of a woman at Saint John's Road West, Dublin 8, on September 7, 2021, and of a further alleged burglary of a flat at Mountjoy.
Where
  • The Gorman trespassing charge relates to a basement flat at Mountjoy Square North, Dublin.
  • The burglary charge against Duffy and Whelan relates to a flat at Kenilworth Road, D6.
When
  • The alleged trespass by Gorman took place on September 7, 2021, and the Duffy and Whelan burglary is dated June 19.
  • The alleged warrant signing and Pulse computer incidents took place between September 30 and December 30, and on September 21, 2021.
Investigation
The case followed an investigation by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit into alleged 2021 activities of a unit in the Dublin region.
Other details
  • Co-defendant Colum Ryan, 35, was charged earlier with burglary and false imprisonment and is due in court later this month.
  • The officers were suspended from duty.
In court
  • At a return-for-trial hearing at Dublin District Court, the Director of Public Prosecutions directed trial on indictment and the judge sent the three officers forward.
  • The officers' cases were sent to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with mention listed for June 13.
  • The three officers did not address the court and have yet to indicate pleas.
Sentence
The judge remanded the three officers on bail. No sentence has been reported.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenThe warrant signing and Pulse computer incidents allegedly happened between September 30 and December 30 and on September 21, 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe case followed an investigation by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit into 2021 activities of a unit in the Dublin region. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThree Dublin-based gardaí were sent forward for trial accused of perverting the course of justice and burglary. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeRobert Gorman is charged with trespassing with intent to commit a theft offence on September 7, 2021, at a basement flat at Mountjoy Square North, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeRobert Gorman is also accused of two counts of perverting the course of public justice. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMark Duffy and Ciaran Whelan were charged with burglary of a flat at Kenilworth Road, D6, on June 19 and with perverting the course of justice. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeCiaran Whelan is further accused of false imprisonment of a woman at Saint John's Road West, Dublin 8, on September 7, 2021, and of another alleged burglary of a flat at Mountjoy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeCo-defendant Colum Ryan was charged earlier with burglary and false imprisonment and will appear in court later this month. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the officers must face trial on indictment. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge sent the three officers forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with their cases listed for mention on June 13. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe three officers did not address the court and have yet to indicate pleas. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge remanded the three officers on bail. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe officers were suspended from duty. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 May2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai sent forward for trial for perverting the course of justice and burglary

    Return-for-trial hearing at Dublin District Court. Co-defendant Colum Ryan was charged earlier and is due in court later this month. A separate peace commissioner and Steven Wrenn charge is not part of this 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, 35, named, irish (judged from name)Colum Ryan