Three Limerick gardaí charged over alleged 'squaring away' of fixed charged notices

Latest charge bring to eight the number of gardaí arrested and charged as part of the investigation

Three accused were charged with a total of 33 counts that, while serving as a member of An Garda Síochána, they did communicate with other gardaí in a manner which had a tendency or was intended to pervert the course of public justice, on dates between 2017 and 2019.

Three serving gardaí appeared before Limerick District Court on Thursday, charged in connection with an investigation surrounding the alleged squaring away of fixed charge notices.

The investigation is being led by detectives attached to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Dublin.

The three accused, Garda Peter O’Donnell, aged 51, Garda Paul Baynham, aged 35, and Garda Niall Deegan, aged 49, all serving in the Limerick Garda Division, were arrested and cautioned at Mayorstone Garda Station last Tuesday, and remanded on station bail to appear before the District Court on Thursday, the court heard.

The three accused, who were each represented by Liz Hughes of Hughes Murphy Solicitors, sat alone in the dock in courtroom number six as each of their cases were called during the late lunchtime sitting.

The three accused were charged with a total of 33 counts that, while serving as a member of An Garda Síochána, they did communicate with other gardaí in a manner which had a tendency or was intended to pervert the course of public justice, on dates between 2017 and 2019.

Garda O’Donnell, who was arrested and charged at 7pm last Tuesday, is accused of 14 separate counts, under the legislation, contrary to common law.

Garda Baynham, who was arrested at 6.27pm on the same date, is charged with 10 separate counts under the legislation.

Garda Deegan, who was arrested an charged at 6.02pm on the same date, is charged with nine separate counts under the legislation.

Detective Inspector Mark Waters gave evidence in court that  he arrested and charged each of the three gardaí, and each accused “made no reply” to the charges.

Detective Insp Waters told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that all three accused gardaí face a trial on indictment at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

None of the three accused spoke during Thursday’s hearing and details of their cases were not heard.

Judge Patricia Harney remanded the three accused on continuing bail, and adjourned the matter to Limerick District Court on October 24 for service of the State’s books of evidence.