Ex-garda in prison for inciting rape admits to unauthorised disclosure of PULSE data

In July, the former garda, Shane Flanagan admitted two counts of inciting two men to rape a woman, who had been a friend

At the Central Criminal Court at the end of July, the court heard that Mr Flanagan impersonated a female colleague online and encouraged strangers to come to her house to rape her and her young daughters. File photo: Liam Burke/Press 22

A former Garda jailed in July for inciting strangers to rape a colleague has pleaded guilty to the unauthorised disclosure of Garda PULSE personal data on two individuals.

At Ennis Circuit Court on Thursday, Shane Flanagan, aged 39 with an address in Ennis, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to two counts out of 14 counts before the court.

Mr Flanagan was brought to court from the prison he is serving his seven-year jail term by Irish Prison Service personnel to be arraigned on two of the 14 counts brought against him.

Mr Flanagan pleaded guilty to counts one and 14 concerning making the unauthorised disclosure to a named person of Garda PULSE personal data on two persons only known by their initials on the charges of LL and IS on dates between January 12, 2020, and September 24, 2020.

The court was told that the pleas were being made on a without prejudice basis to demonstrate Mr Flanagan’s intent to take responsibility for his actions.

On behalf of Mr Flanagan, Mark Nicholas SC asked that the legal aid certificate be extended to cover the cost of a psychiatric report on the accused. Judge Francis Comerford granted it.

Counsel for the State, Sarah-Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey), previously told the court that the charges against Mr Flanagan are "serious charges”.

The case against Mr Flanagan — who resigned from the force in March — was listed for trial this week and that will not now proceed with the guilty pleas entered. Mr Flanagan has pleaded guilty to the offences that were brought under the Data Protection Act.

Judge Comerford remanded Mr Flanagan in custody to re-appear at Ennis Circuit Court on November 14 via video link from prison to fix a date for sentencing.

Incitement to rape case

At the Central Criminal Court at the end of July, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced Mr Flanagan to eight years in prison and suspended the final year.

The court heard that Mr Flanagan impersonated a female colleague online and encouraged strangers to come to her house to rape her and her young daughters. Ms Justice Creedon said Shane Flanagan showed a breathtaking disregard for the safety of his victims.

Mr Flanagan admitted two counts of inciting two men to rape the woman, who had been a friend, on dates between November and December 2020.

Flanagan also admitted six counts of endangering the woman and her teenage daughters through his communications online and he pleaded guilty to possessing four images of child sexual abuse material.

The court heard that Flanagan and the woman were both serving members of An Garda Síochána at the time. They were friends but had never had a romantic or intimate relationship.