Fourth garda appears in court charged with perverting the course of justice and burglary

The case has been adjourned until May

Detective Sergeant Paul Dowling told Judge Treasa Kelly that the accused was charged with the three offences on March 11 at Irishtown station and given bail. File picture

A fourth Dublin-based garda has appeared in court charged with perverting the course of justice and burglary.

Robert Gorman, 43, appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday following an investigation by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit.

The officer was charged with trespassing with intent to commit a theft offence on September 7, 2021, at a basement flat at Mountjoy Square North in Dublin.

He is also accused of two counts of perverting the course of public justice by later signing information for the search warrant and by creating three incidents on the Garda Pulse computer system.

The warrant signing and Pulse computer incidents allegedly happened between September 30 and December 30 and on September 21, 2021.

Detective Sergeant Paul Dowling told Judge Treasa Kelly that the accused was charged with the three offences on March 11 at Irishtown station and given bail. The court heard the accused, who has a north Dublin address, "made no reply" to the charges.

Detective Sergeant Dowling confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed trial on indictment, and the defence consented to the case being adjourned until May so the State could prepare a book of evidence.

It must be served on the accused before a trial order is granted and the case is sent to the Circuit Court.

The officer, who was not in uniform, said, "Thanks, Judge," at the end of the hearing. He has still to indicate a plea.

Corruption investigation

Over the past two weeks, three other Dublin-based members of An Garda Siochana have been charged with connected offences.

Garda Mark Duffy from Dublin 15, Garda Colum Ryan, with a Co Meath address, and Garda Sergeant Ciaran Whelan, who resides in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, were charged with burglary and perverting the course of justice.

Garda Ryan and Sergeant Whelan were further accused of false imprisonment of a female at Saint John's Road West, Dublin 8, on September 7, 2021.

They have not entered pleas yet and will also appear again at the District Court on May 17 to be served with their books of evidence and returned to the higher court for trial.

A peace commissioner and former Labour Party councillor has also been charged with perverting the course of justice and forgery.

Steven Wrenn, 50, of Iveragh Road, Whitehall, Dublin, is accused of signing two false search warrants for flats at Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1 and Kenilworth Road, D6, in 2021.

The DPP has directed that his case could remain in the District Court if he pleaded guilty. He has yet to indicate what course he will take and is due back in court on May 7.