Ireland Crime

Named as

Accused

Born

1981, from the ages reported

Offences

Corruption offences (corruption of public office), Corruption (procurement, Bribery)

Where

Co. Dublin, Co. Kildare

Reporting

2 reports, 28 Jan 2026 to 28 Jan 2026

Outlets

rte.ie, irishtimes.com

• Four men charged with corruption of public office at Blanchardstown court Corruption offences (corruption of public office) · Co. Dublin

  Four men, including former Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board CEO Seán Ashe, 73, were charged with 178 offences, mostly corruption of public office, following an eight-year investigation into alleged corrupt practices. The other defendants are Kieran Downey, 49, Richard Whelan, 41, and John Ashe, 44, Seán Ashe's son. All four were arrested at different times on the morning of 28 January 2026 and appeared at Blanchardstown District Court, where Judge Aine Clancy granted bail to each, subject to weekly sign-on and passport surrender. The men are scheduled to appear again on 28 April.

  In court, 28 Jan 2026Accused · 1 report
• Four charged with corruption at Kildare and Wicklow Education Training Board Corruption (procurement · Co. Kildare

  In 2018, the GNECB Anti-Bribery and Corruption Unit launched Operation Lakefront into alleged corrupt procurement practices at the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. Ten individuals were arrested and questioned over the course of the investigation. On 28 January 2026, four Irish men—Seán Ashe, 74, former KWETB chief executive; his son John Ashe, 45; Ciaran Downey, 49; and Richard Whelan, 42—were arrested by appointment and charged with a total of 178 offences, including corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 2001. All four appeared before Judge Áine Clancy at Blanchardstown District Court and were remanded on bail with conditions including surrender of passports.

  In court, 28 Jan 2026Accused · 1 report

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 28 Jan2026
   In courtrte.ie, in Four men charged with corruption of public office at Blanchardstown court

   Ex-education board CEO charged with corruption offences

   accused, John Ashe, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Ashe♂44IE
2. 28 Jan2026
   In courtirishtimes.com, in Four charged with corruption at Kildare and Wicklow Education Training Board

   Four charged with alleged corrupt practices at Kildare and Wicklow Education Training Board

   accused, John Ashe, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Ashe♂45IE

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.