DPP has file on man accused of applying for passports in Cork in names of deceased babies

Cork District Court heard there is a strong likelihood of further charges against the man

Randolph Kirk Parker has been in custody since his arrest at the passport office on South Mall, Cork, on September 14. File picture: Denis Minihane

The investigation file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions over the holiday period in the case against the 72-year-old American previously known as Philip Morris and later identified through enquiries with the FBI as Randolph Kirk Parker.

This was confirmed on Tuesday by Detective Garda Padraic Hanley of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Cork District Court. “The file is with the DPP and has been for two weeks. It was a complicated enough file. We are seeking a four-week adjournment.

“There is a strong likelihood of further charges. At this stage we would ask for the four weeks,” Det. Garda Hanley said.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor for the accused, asked if it was expected that directions would be available from the DPP within four weeks. The detective replied that they would hope to have directions at that stage. 

Mr Buttimer asked by way of clarification: “It is anticipated there will be further charges?” Det. Garda Hanley said: “There is a fair likelihood there will be further charges.” The detective said that if directions were not indicated in three weeks then there would be further contact from NBCI to the DPP about directions.

The accused appeared by video link from prison. Mr Buttimer suggested that on the next court date the accused should be brought to court in person. Sergeant John Kelleher said there was no objection to that from the prosecution.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until January 29 with the accused remanded in custody until then.

At a previous hearing, Det. Garda Hanley said: “We believe we have identified the accused through enquiries with the FBI as Randolph Parker with a date of birth, the seventh of the third, 1951.” Mr Buttimer said: “There is no objection to that amendment to the charge sheets. Mr Norris heretofore acknowledges that his name is as stated by Detective Garda Hanley – Randolph Kirk Parker.” 

As matters stand, the defendant is charged on counts related to an investigation into the alleged application for passports in the names of babies who died in the 1950s. He has been in custody since his arrest at the passport office on South Mall, Cork, on September 14. It was alleged that he had passports in the names of two babies who died within three months of birth in 1952 and 1953.

One charge states that on September 11, 2023, at the passport office on South Mall, Cork, he provided information or documents which were false or misleading, in connection with a passport application. There are two similar charges referring to an unknown date between September 12 and 25, 2012, at the Passport Office on South Mall, Cork, and the application for the issue of a passport, and one final, similar charge referring to a different date, June 7, 2022.