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. 4548Perverting the course of justice · Co. Limerick

Trial of four gardaí and retired superintendent over alleged intervention in penalty notice prosecutions

Four gardaí and a retired garda superintendent are on trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court over alleged unlawful intervention in potential or pending fixed charge penalty notice prosecutions. They have pleaded not guilty to a total of 39 offences of conduct tending and intending to pervert the course of justice.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court19 Nov
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused are alleged to have unlawfully intervened in potential or pending fixed charge penalty notice prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe five accused have pleaded not guilty to 39 counts in total. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe specialist unit began investigating alleged interference in pending or potential fixed charge penalty notices in 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe investigation is said to start with Sergeant Hassett allegedly communicating with other gardaí to end a prosecution of Jason Gillane for holding a mobile phone while driving. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe charges arose from an investigation by members of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí from the GNBCI obtained search warrants to seize mobile phones and executed them at the homes of a number of individuals. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA national Garda unit raided several Garda stations and homes and seized mobile phones as part of the probe. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí executed a search warrant at Aaron Gillane's home in Patrickswell on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSearch warrants were also executed at the homes of Pat Ryan and Siobhan Scanlon, who were under investigation on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe GNBCI investigation involved at least 10 detective sergeants and other colleagues. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe five accused are charged with 39 offences of engaging in conduct tending and intending to pervert the course of justice contrary to common law. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe four gardaí and retired superintendent are accused of unlawfully interfering or intending to interfere in potential or pending prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe five accused have pleaded not guilty before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial is before Judge Roderick Maguire and a jury of eight men and four women, and is expected to last up to Christmas. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues on Thursday before a jury of eight men and Judge Roderick Maguire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe court heard that gardaí in senior positions have the power to cancel FCPNs in certain circumstances. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA superintendent said cancellations may be considered in cases such as a medical professional responding to an emergency or a sudden death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNone of the named civilians had been charged with any offence arising from the GNBCI probe. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Nov2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Garda stations were raided in probe into alleged interference with road offences

    Trial report from the second day of evidence. Detective Sergeant Robert Madden described the GNBCI probe, which began in 2019, including phone seizures and search warrants. The article says none of the civilians named had been charged. The trial continues on Thursday before a jury and Judge Roderick Maguire.

    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
  2. 19 Nov2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Trial of Gardaí and ex-Superintendent hears of power to cancel penalty points

    Reports on the trial's early evidence, including testimony that senior gardaí can cancel FCPNs in certain circumstances and evidence from a prosecution witness and a superintendent. Adds that the trial before Judge Roderick Maguire is expected to last until Christmas.

    accused, Edmund 'Eamon' O'Neill, named, irish (judged from name)Edmund '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