Thursday 29 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. 8825Perverting the course of justice · Co. Limerick

Three Limerick gardaí launch High Court proceedings for compensation after charges dropped

Three men, gardaí serving in the Limerick Garda Division in roads policing, were charged with perverting the course of justice over the alleged termination of road traffic offence tickets, and the sources do not give the date of those terminations. An NBCI probe began in 2020, after which the three men were suspended, and they pleaded not guilty. In March they were told the case against them was being withdrawn. Reported on 1 July 2026, they had launched High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the State to recover compensation for a significant toll on their health and families, according to their solicitor.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Three Limerick gardaí were charged with perverting the course of justice over the alleged termination of road traffic offence tickets.
Where
The three men were all serving in the Limerick Garda Division in roads policing.
When
The sources do not give a date for the alleged ticket terminations.
Investigation
An NBCI probe began in 2020, and the three men had been suspended since then.
Charges
The three men pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In court
  • In March the three men were told the case against them was being withdrawn.
  • The three men launched High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the State.
Other details
  • The men are named as Garda Peter O'Donnell, Garda Paul Baynham and Niall Deegan, who is described as a retired garda.
  • The men's solicitor says they have suffered a significant toll on their health and families.
  • The proceedings aim to recover compensation for that damage.
Sentence
No sentence was imposed, as the case against the men was withdrawn.
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree Limerick gardaí cleared of alleged road traffic offences have launched legal proceedings to recover compensation. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe three men were all serving in the Limerick Garda Division in roads policing. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe three men had been charged with perverting the course of justice in connection with the alleged termination of road traffic offence tickets. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtIn March the three men were told the case against them was being withdrawn. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe three men launched High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the State. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThey all pleaded not guilty and had been suspended since 2020 after an NBCI probe began. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor says the men have suffered a significant toll on their health and families, and the proceedings aim to recover compensation for that damage. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jul2026
    Otherthejournal.ie, first report
    Limerick gardaí cleared of road traffic offences launch legal proceedings to recover compensation

    Reports that the High Court proceedings were launched and that the case against the three men was withdrawn in March. It does not give a date for the alleged ticket terminations.

    accused, Peter O'Donnell, named, irish (judged from name)Peter O'Donnellaccused, Paul Baynham, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Baynhamaccused, Niall Deegan, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Deegan