G-string and bullet sender ‘was in contact with detective’

Phone records show a Dublin woman was in contact with a detective garda when she allegedly posted a Valentines card containing a g-string and a bullet to one of the officer’s colleagues, a court has heard.

Julie Conway Browning, 49, from Dermot O’Dwyer House, Hardwicke St, Dublin has pleaded not guilty to giving information she knew to be false or misleading to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

It was day two of her trial at Dublin District Court, which has heard claims of bullying and harassment in the serious crime team, a section of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, based in Harcourt Square.

The defence is also seeking to have the woman’s case thrown out claiming a complaint was received by GSOC too late. The case was adjourned for four weeks when a ruling will be made as to whether or not the trial will continue.

Judge Bryan Smyth has heard evidence that a complaint had been made to GSOC on August 14, 2011, from the wife of Det Sergeant Michael Buckley of the serious crime review team.

She told GSOC her husband has been subjected to “harassment and bullying” by two named colleagues, including a Det Gda David O’Brien.

She alleged that, in February 2011, her husband “received an envelope in the post, it contained a Valentines card”. Inside the card was a poem of a “graphic sexual nature” as well as a “black and red g-string and a .22 calibre bullet”.

Mrs Buckley told GSOC she feared for her family’s safety.

When questioned by a GSOC investigator, both Ms Conway Browning, who was identified as the sender, and Det Gda O’Brien said they had not seen each other since the 1990s.

Ms Conway Browning agreed she had sent the poem and the g-string for a laugh but claimed she did not put a bullet in the envelope. She had also told GSOC: “I feel Michael Buckley put the bullet in it. Gardaí should look at the people he locked up.”

No DNA traces or fingerprints were found on the bullet.

GSOC analyst Angela Murray told the court that communication data showed that, from February 1, 2011, until March 26 that year, the accused and Det Gda O’Brien had contacted one and other’s phones on 291 occasions by texts or calls.