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. 3852Corruption · Co. Limerick · 22 Dec 2018

Trial of Limerick car dealer Stephen O'Sullivan for corruption collapses

The trial of Stephen O'Sullivan, 43, a Limerick car dealer accused of giving €20,000 to Detective Garda David Bourke as a corrupt payment, collapsed when Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin discharged the jury after the defence sought to call a previously unknown witness. The case was listed for mention on 20 February 2026 to fix a new trial date.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatStephen O'Sullivan is a Co Limerick engineer and director of Stephen Bawn Motors. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe jury heard audio of a covert recording of a conversation in which the defendant gives €20,000 to the detective and asks questions about ongoing Garda investigations into his business. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe defendant told investigators that senior gardaí were involved in extorting money from him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatStephen O'Sullivan is a director of Stephen Bawn Motors. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatO'Sullivan was accused of giving or agreeing to give Detective Garda David Bourke €20,000 as an inducement to reveal confidential information about a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe corruption charge relates to Bruree, Co Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged corruption occurred at Bruree, Co Limerick, on 22 December 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe corruption incident is dated 22 December 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtO'Sullivan pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin ruled that the jury should be discharged. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was listed for mention on 20 February 2026 to fix a trial date. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin ruled the jury should be discharged. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution conceded the new witness is highly relevant and were seeking to discharge the jury and get a retrial. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Feb2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Trial of Limerick car dealer accused of corrupt payment to garda collapses

    The trial collapsed after the defence applied to call a previously unknown witness whose evidence the prosecution conceded was highly relevant; the jury was discharged and the case listed for mention on 20 February 2026 to fix a new trial date.

    accused, Stephen O'Sullivan, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen O'Sullivansuspect, David Bourke, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Bourke
  2. 10 Feb2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Trial over alleged €20,000 corruption payment to garda for confidential information collapses

    Reports the collapse of the corruption trial after the jury was discharged following a defence application to call a new witness; prosecution conceded the witness is highly relevant and sought a retrial; case listed for mention on 20 February 2026.

    accused, 43, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, David Bourke, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Bourkesuspect, male, irish (judged from name)